Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens was born in Charleston, Province of South Carolina in 1724. His father sent him to England to further his business education in 1744 but after the death of his father in 1747, Henry Laurens returned home to Charleston. He married Eleanor Ball and the pair had 13 children many of whom did not survive childhood. He was a member of the militia and rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel during the Seven Years’ War.
In 1757 he elected to the colonial assembly. He was elected every year until 1773 when he traveled to England to arrange for the education of his sons. When it became clear that an American Revolution was likely, Laurens was initially in favor of reconciling with the British Crown. As time passed and the relationship between the Americans and the British deteriorated, Laurens decided to support the American cause.
He became an active member of the revolution serving as Vice President of South Carolina and then named a delegate to the Continental Congress. In 1780 the Congress made him minister to the Netherlands and he was able to negotiate Dutch support for the war. When he was sailing to Amsterdam his ship was intercepted by the British. He was captured and charged with treason. His subsequent imprisonment was largely protested by the Americans.
He was held in the Tower of London and assisted by a former business partner by the name of Richard Oswald. Oswald argued on Laurens’ behalf and in 1781, Laurens was exchanged for General Lord Cornwallis and finally finished his voyage to Amsterdam. He was able to raise funds for the American effort and he returned home and retired from public life in 1784. However, he did serve on the state convention in 1788 and voted to ratify the United States Constitution.