Arthur Middleton, a representative from South Carolina in the Second Continental Congress, played a crucial role in framing the Articles of Confederation. Although he resigned before signing them, he was an instrumental figure in shaping the new government. A Cambridge, England graduate and member of the Council of Safety at Charleston, Middleton was a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776. He was captured by the British during the Revolutionary War and held prisoner for over a year, during which time he lost most of his fortune. However, having married into a prominent family, he became a wealthy rice plantation owner who owned over 100 slaves and remained active in politics until his death in 1787.
