American Revolutionary soldier, born in South Carolina in 1745. When the British began a campaign in South Carolina in 1780, Hayne, then a senator in the State legislature, became a captain of cavalry. Being made prisoner at the capture of Charleston, May 12, 1780, he was paroled, but early in 1781 he was ordered either to take arms as a British subject or to return to Charleston as a prisoner. On being assured that he would not be required to bear arms against his countrymen, he signed a declaration of allegiance to the king. Afterwards, however, those who had formerly given their parole were required to perform military service, and rather than do this for the British, Hayne went to the American camp, and was commissioned as colonel. In July 1781, he captured Gen. Williamson, a Scotchman by birth, who had gone over to the British. A large force was immediately sent out from Charleston, by which Hayne was captured. He was confined at Charleston until the arrival of Lord Rawdon, then condemned by a court of inquiry, and executed at Charleston, SC, on the 4th of August 1781. Gen. Greene issued a proclamation August 26th, declaring his determination to make reprisals. The subject was discussed in the British Parliament and Lord Rawdon published a justification of his conduct, which was afterwards criticised by Robert Y. Hayne in the Southern Review, February 1828.
