SC People

Eliza Lucas Pinckney

(1723–1793) Eliza Lucas Pinckney was a daughter of a plantation owner who is best known for her experiments with creating blue dye from indigo plants, which led to indigo becoming one of the colony’s most importan

Charles Cotesworth Pinckney

(1746-1825) Charles Cotesworth Pinckney was a South Carolina lawyer and signer of the United States Constitution.

Bill Pinkney

(1925-2007) Born in Dalzell, SC, Bill Pinkney was a pitcher in the Negro League, served in World War II, member of the R&B group, The Drifters and influential in the beach music scene.

Joel Roberts Poinsett

(1779-1851) Born in Charleston, Joel Roberts Poinsett was a US Representative, the first US Minister to Mexico, and US Secretary of War under Martin Van Buren. The poinsettia flower is named after him.

Melvin Purvis

(1903-1960) Born in Timmonsville, SC, Melvin Purvis was an FBI agent responsible for ending the criminal careers of Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd, and John Dillinger.

Joseph Hayne Rainey

(1832-1887) Joseph Hayne Rainey was the first African American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Jean Ribault

(1520-1565) Jean Ribault was a French navigator who led an expedition to the New World in 1562 that founded the outpost of Charlesfort on Paris Island.

Jim Rice

(1953- ) Born in Anderson, SC, Jim Rice is a former Boston Red Sox baseball player, coach, and sports commentator.

John Gardiner Richards, Jr.

(1864-1941) John Gardiner Richards, Jr. was the governor of South Carolina from 1926-1931.

Richard Wilson Riley

(1933- ) Richard Wilson "Dick" Riley was the governor of South Carolina from 1979-1987 and U.S. Secretary of Education from 1993-2001.

Henry Martyn Robert

(1837–1923) Born in Robertville, SC, Henry Martyn Robert is the author of Robert’s Rules of Order, the most widely used manual of parliamentary procedure.

Julie Roberts

(1979- ) Born in Lancaster, SC, Julie Roberts is a popular country music singer.

Chris Rock

(1965- ) Born in Andrews, SC, Chris Rock is a well-known comedian, actor, screenwriter, television and film producer, and director.

George Rogers

(1958-) George Rogers won the Heisman Trophy in 1980 while playing for the University of South Carolina. He also played professionally with the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins.

Al Rosen

(1924-2015) Born in Spartanburg, SC, Al Rosen was a Major League Baseball player in the 1940s and 1950s, and was the president of several teams in his career.

Darius Rucker

(1966- ) Born in Charleston, SC, Darius Rucker is a musician and lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish.

Archibald Rutledge

(1883-1973) Archibald Rutledge was a famous naturalist writer who was also the first poet laureate of South Carolina.

John Rutledge

(1739-1800) Born in Charleston, SC, John Rutledge was a signer of the US constitution and the first governor of South Carolina following the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Edward Rutledge

(1749-1800) Born in Charleston, SC, Edward Rutledge was the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence and later governor of South Carolina from 1798-1800.

Eulalie Chafee Salley

(1883-1975) Eulalie Chafee Salley from Aiken, SC fought for the right for women to vote.