John Lawrence Manning was Governor of South Carolina 1852-54 as well as a signer of the Ordinance of Secession.
He was born on January 29, 1816 in Clarendon District, the son of Governor Richard Irvine Manning and Elizabeth Payne Richardson Manning. He was a grandson of General Richard Richardson of Revolutionary War fame.
John L. Manning attended Princeton College but graduated from the South Carolina College in 1837. A large planter in South Carolina and Louisiana, his home plantation was "Manchester" in Clarendon District.
On April 11, 1838 he married Susan Frances Hampton. After her death, he married Sallie Bland Clarke on April 23, 1848. In 1860 John Manning was accounted one of the richest men in South Carolina. He served as governor 1852-54. He served in the State Senate 1846-52, 1861-65, 1866-67 and 1877-78. He was a member of the House of Representatives 1842-46 and 1865-66. Named to the Secession Convention in 1860, he signed the Ordinaance of Secession.
During the War Between the States John Manning was a colonel on the staff of General P.G.T. Beauregard at Fort Sumter and at the Battle of Manassas in Virginia. Immediately after the war he was elected to the U.S. Senate but, declining to take the oath of allegiance to the United States he was not seated. Governor Manning was an active supporter of the South Carolina College, establishing scholarships and aiding young men in securing an education.
John L. Manning died October 29, 1889 at Camden, S.C. and is buried in Trinity Episcopal Churchyard, Columbia, S.C. He was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church.

John Lawrence Manning was Governor of South Carolina 1852-54 as well as a signer of the Ordinance of Secession.
He was born on January 29, 1816 in Clarendon District, the son of Governor Richard Irvine Manning and Elizabeth Payne Richardson Manning. He was a grandson of General Richard Richardson of Revolutionary War fame.
John L. Manning attended Princeton College but graduated from the South Carolina College in 1837. A large planter in South Carolina and Louisiana, his home plantation was "Manchester" in Clarendon District.
On April 11, 1838 he married Susan Frances Hampton. After her death, he married Sallie Bland Clarke on April 23, 1848. In 1860 John Manning was accounted one of the richest men in South Carolina. He served as governor 1852-54. He served in the State Senate 1846-52, 1861-65, 1866-67 and 1877-78. He was a member of the House of Representatives 1842-46 and 1865-66. Named to the Secession Convention in 1860, he signed the Ordinaance of Secession.
During the War Between the States John Manning was a colonel on the staff of General P.G.T. Beauregard at Fort Sumter and at the Battle of Manassas in Virginia. Immediately after the war he was elected to the U.S. Senate but, declining to take the oath of allegiance to the United States he was not seated. Governor Manning was an active supporter of the South Carolina College, establishing scholarships and aiding young men in securing an education.
John L. Manning died October 29, 1889 at Camden, S.C. and is buried in Trinity Episcopal Churchyard, Columbia, S.C. He was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church.