LOWNDES, William, American legislator: b. Saint Barthomew's, Colleton County, S. C., 7 Feb. 1782; d. at sea, 27 Oct. 1822. He was taken to England when he was seven years of age, and sent for three years to an English grammar-school. 'On his return to Charles. ton he was graduated at Charleston College, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1804, but he soon abandoned his profession to attend to his plantation. In 1806 Mr. Lowndes was elected to the lower house of the general assembly of South Carolina, retaining his seat until 1810, when he was chosen a member of Congress as a Democrat, and re-elected five times successively, serving from 4 Nov. 1811, till 8 May 1822, when failing health compelled his resignation. He was an earnest supporter of the War of 1812, and spoke frequently on matters pertaining to the army, the navy, the finances. the national bank, the Missoun Com•
promise, the Spanish treaty and the tariff. His friends regarded him as a suitable candidate for the Presidency, and he was nominated by the legislature of South Carolina. His health having been benefited by a visit to England in 1819, he decided to return to that country, and had embarked with his family from Philadel phia, but did not live to complete the voyage. As a debater he occupied the front rank, in spite of a weakness of voice caused by diseased lungs, while his memory was remarkably re tentive. It is said that Henry Clay expressed the opinion that Lowndes was °the wisest man he had ever known in His portrait by Morse is in the Corcoran Gallery, Washing ton. Consult Ravenel, H. H. R., 'Life and Times of William (Boston 1901).