ALLSTON, JOSEPH (c. American planter and governor of South Carolina, was born probably in All Saints' parish, S.C., about 1779. He was educated at Princeton but left in his senior year without graduating and studied law in the office of Edward Rutledge. He was elected a member of the lower house of the South Carolina legislature in i8o2, and continued to serve until 1812, being speaker from 18o5 to 1809. In 1812 he was elected governor and his administration, 1813-15, was noted for its energetic support of the War of 1812. In 18oi Allston married Theodosia Burr (q.v.), brilliant daughter of Aaron Burr (q.v.). Through this marriage Allston was drawn into a minor connection with the so-called "Burr Conspiracy," and the fact seriously hampered his later political career. It was but natural that he should have aided Burr during the trial to establish his innocence, and it has been established that he was the author of the pamphlet Agrestis which then appeared. Allston's only child died in 1812 and in 1813 Theodosia was lost at sea. Allston, himself of frail health, survived these tragedies but a few years, dying on Sept. io, 1816.