David Ramsay

David Ramsay was educated as physician and began practice in Cecil County, Maryland. Upon moving to South Carolina, he settled in Charleston, where he was elected member of the state House of Representatives (1776-1783). During the Revolutionary War, Ramsay served as surgeon of the Charleston Battalion of Artillery in the Revolutionary Army. Captured at the fall of Charleston in May 1780, Ramsay spent 11 months imprisoned at St. Augustine, Florida. He was elected delegate to the Continental Congress from South Carolina on 31 Jan 1782 and took a seat in the Congress (1782-1783). In two years, he was re-elected (11 Feb 1785) and elected chairman of the Congress (23 Nov 1785) to serve for the period of incapacity of President John Hancock. Ramsay's term as delegate expired on 12 May 1786.

When the new government was installed in 1789, Ramsay stood as candidate in election to the U.S. Congress, but lost to William L. Smith, whose election he unsuccessfully contested. Ramsay was known as historian of South Carolina, who wrote several historical works, and was considered the father of American copyrights. He was elected to the State Senate of South Carolina and served as president of that body for seven years. Ramsay was shot by a maniac on 6 May 1815, in Charleston, and died on 8 May 1815.