[Francis Wilkinson]. American politician, born in Togadoo, St. Pauls parish, SC, on the 7th of April 1805, son of Andrew Pickens (17791838) and grandson of General Andrew Pickens (17391817). He was educated at Franklin College, Athens, GA, and at South Carolina College, Columbia, and was admitted to the bar in 1829. In 1832 he was elected to the state House of Representatives, where, as chairman of a sub-committee, he submitted a report denying the right of Congress to exercise any control over the states. He was a Democratic member of the National House of Representatives in 18341843, served in the South Carolina Senate in 18441845, was a delegate to the Nashville Southern Convention in 1850, was United States minister to Russia in 18581860, and in 18601862 was governor of South Carolina. He strongly advocated the secession of the southern states; signed the South Carolina ordinance of secession; protested against Major Robert Andersons removal from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter; sanctioned the firing upon the Star of the West (Jan. 9, 1861), which was bringing supplies to Anderson, and the bombardment of Fort Sumter; and was a zealous supporter of the Confederate cause. At the close of his term he retired to his home at Edgefield, SC, where he died on the 25th of January 1869.