(West Face right)
Thomas Sumter was bornnear the Blue RidgeMountains in Virginia in 1734.He fought in the French andIndian War and also againstthe Cherokees in 1761.
(South Face)
Sumter married MaryCantey in 1767 in St. MarksParish (Clarendon County)South Carolina. They had onechild who survived, a sonThomas Sumter, Jr., born 1768
He served as aJustice of the Peace (1774)and as a member of the FirstProvincial Congress inSouth Carolina
(Southeast Face)
Brigadier General Sumterled a partisan (guerrilla)band in the AmericanRevolution in battles suchas Hanging Rock, Fishing Creek,Fish Dam Ford, Rocky Mount andBlackstock.Because of his tenaciousfighting qualities during the Revolution, Sumter became renowned as the "Gamecock." [List of Bicentennial Committee names]
( Northeast Face)
In 1780 GovernorJohn Rutledge appointedSumter Commander-in-Chiefof the South Carolina Militia
He held office in 1782 as aSouth Carolina Senatorand was a memberof the Continental Congress,1783-1784.
(Northwest Face)
Sumter served as a memberof the United StatesHouse of Representatives(1789-1793; 1797-1801) and inthe Senate (1801-1810).
Thomas Sumter died onJune 1, 1832, in Stateburg,South Carolina at the age of98. He was the last survivinggeneral officer of theAmerican Revolution.
( West Face left)
Commissioned for theBicentennial of SumterCity-County sculpted byMaria J. Kirby-Smith. DedicatedJanuary 8, 2000
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