William John Grayson (1788–1863) was an American politician, poet, and writer, known for his contributions to Southern literature and political discourse. He served as a U.S. Representative from South Carolina (1833–37) and advocated for states’ rights and economic policies.
Born in Beaufort, South Carolina, he pursued classical studies, graduating from South Carolina College (1809.) He studied law, was admitted to the South Carolina bar (1822,) and practiced in Beaufort. He later served in the South Carolina House of Representatives (1813–15, 1822–25) and Senate (1826–31) before being elected to Congress as a Nullifier.
Beyond politics, Grayson was a literary figure, frequently contributing to Southern Quarterly Review. His most notable work, The Hireling and the Slave, Chicora, and Other Poems (1856,) presents his views on labor and Southern society. He also authored Witness to Sorrow: The Antebellum Autobiography of William J. Grayson (1990,) providing insights into his political and social perspectives.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by William J. Grayson
Three-fourths of the popular novels of the day enfeeble the intellect, impoverish the imagination, vulgarize the taste and style, give false or distorted views of life and human nature, and, which is worst of all, waste that precious time which should be given to solid mental improvement.
—William J. Grayson
Leave a Reply