LOWNDES, WititAlt ( 1782-1822 ) . An American political leader and legislator. He was born at Saint Bartholomew's Parish, Colic ton County, S. C.: was educated in England and at Charleston; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1804, but practiced for only a year; and then, having married the daughter of Thomas Pinckney, retired to his plantation. Allying himself politically with the deffersonian Repub licans, lie was in 1806 elected to the South Caro lina Assembly, and from 1810 until his death was a member of the National House of Repre sentatives. As a member of the Committee on Military Affairs, he was a sharp critic of the Administration's conduct of the War of 1812, opposed the confiscation of merchants' bonds. and voted with the Federalists on some questions. In 1814 he became chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, a position in which he strongly opposed privateering. In the session of 1815-16, as chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means. he drew up and secured the passage, with the support of Calhoun. but in the face of violent opposition from Southern agricultural interests, of the 'Tariff of 1810.' which recognized the
protective principle. At the first session of the Fifteenth Congress he secured the passage of his measure establishing a sinking fund. In 1819 lie became chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Ile again declined the French mission, and on December 1S. 1821, was nominated for the Presidency by the South Carolina Legislature— an honor which he did not refuse, but was loath to accept for fear of hurting the chances of his friend Calhoun. About this time, however, his health began to fail rapidly. On October 21, 1822, he sailed for Europe, but died on the 27th, and was buried at sea. His influence in national legislation during the critical decade 1S12 to 1822 was very great, and the estimate of him reported to have been made by Henry Clay. that he was the wisest man he ever knew, gives a good idea of his standing among his contempo raries. Consult Ravenel, Life and Times of liam Lourdes (Boston, 1901).