Joel Adams II (March 6, 1784 – May 1, 1859) was an American politician, lawyer, and planter. He was son of

Joel Adams Joel Adams (February 4, 1750 – July 9, 1830) was an American planter and soldier from Richland County, South Carolina. Adams served as an officer in the South Carolina militia during the American Revolution and also served in the Continental A ...

and Grace Weston Adams and was born in Richland District, South Carolina, March 6, 1784. He graduated from

Yale University Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...

in 1807. He studied law in the office of the late Judge Nott, in

Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the capital of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 census, it is the second-largest city in South Carolina. The city serves as the county seat of Richland County, and a portion of the city ...

. Soon after his admission to the bar, he left the profession, and then devoted himself, with eminent success, to the pursuits of a planter in his native district. He was occasionally in public life, having been a member of the

Legislature of South Carolina The South Carolina General Assembly, also called the South Carolina Legislature, is the state legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The legislature is bicameral and consists of the lower house, lowe ...

in 1812 and 1813, and again in 1832. Joel II is the brother of William Weston Adams and they graduated together from

Yale Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wor ...

. His nephew

James Hopkins Adams James Hopkins Adams (March 15, 1812 – July 13, 1861) was an American politician who served as the 66th governor of South Carolina from 1854 to 1856. He also served in the South Carolina Legislature. Early life and education Adams was born i ...

graduated from

, and was the 66th

Governor of South Carolina The governor of South Carolina is the head of government of South Carolina. The governor is the '' ex officio'' commander-in-chief of the National Guard when not called into federal service. The governor's responsibilities include making year ...

from 1854 to 1857. His nephew Robert Adams II was a captain in the Confederate Army, and his life was depicted in the film '' The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams''. Joel's nephew James Pickett Adams (1828–1904) was a member of the

South Carolina House of Representatives The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections. Unlike many legislatures, seati ...

, and was Major in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

. The South Carolina author and physician Dr. Edward Clarkson Leverett Adams (1876–1946) was the great-grandson of Joel II and was also a member of The

. E.C.L. Adams was also the great-grandson of James Adams, Joel II's brother. E.C.L. Adams was the author of a number of books including ''Tales of the Congaree''. Joel died near Columbia, South Carolina, May 1, 1859, aged 75, and is buried at Elm Savannah (his home), near St. John's Congaree Episcopal Church in Congaree, South Carolina.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Joel, II 1784 births 1859 deaths Yale University alumni Members of the South Carolina House of Representatives South Carolina lawyers People from Richland County, South Carolina 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American lawyers