William Drayton (1776-1846)

Colonel Drayton, Congressman & President of the Second Bank of the United States

He was born at Charleston and became known as "Colonel Drayton" after reaching that rank during active service in the War of 1812. He was a U.S. Congressman (1825 to 1833), but made himself 'persona non grata' in his native state when he supported Federal authority during the Nullification Crisis of 1832-1833. At that point, he removed his family north to Philadelphia. There, he served as the last President of the Second Bank of the United States, from 1839 until it closed in 1841. He was married twice to: (1) Anna Gadsden, by whom he had four children, and, (2) Maria Miles Heyward, by whom he had five children but only two survived to adulthood. 

Parents (2)

William Drayton

Chief Justice of East Florida & Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court

1732-1790

Mary (Motte) Drayton

Mrs Mary (Motte) Drayton

1739-1778

Spouses (2)

Anna Gadsden

Mrs Ann (Gadsden) Drayton

1783-1813

Maria (Heyward) Drayton

Mrs Maria Miles (Heyward) Drayton

1784-1862

Children (6)

Emma Gadsden Drayton

Emma Gadsden Drayton, died unmarried in early adulthood

1805-1836

Thomas Fenwick Drayton

Brigadier-General Thomas F. Drayton, of the Confederate Army

1809-1891

Percival Drayton

Admiral Percival Drayton, Chief of the U.S. Bureau of Navigation

1812-1865

William Sidney Drayton

Lt. William S. Drayton, U.S.N., of New York City & Staatsburg, Dutchess Co., N.Y.

1813-1860

William Heyward Drayton

William Heyward Drayton, of Philadelphia

1817-1892

Henry Edward Drayton

Dr Henry E. Drayton, of Philadelphia

1823-1862

Image Courtesy of the Frick Art Reference Library