Randolph Murdaugh Sr.
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Randolph Murdaugh Sr. | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Randolph Murdaugh Sr. in a campaign advertisement for his 1920 campaign | |
| 2nd Circuit solicitor for the 14th judicial district of South Carolina | |
| In office 1920–1940 | |
| Preceded by | George Warren |
| Succeeded by | Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 28, 1887 |
| Died | July 19, 1940 (aged 53) |
| Cause of death | Train vs. automobile collision |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Etta Causey Harvey |
| Children | 2, including Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr. |
| Relatives | Randolph Murdaugh III (grandson) |
| Education | U.S. Naval Academy University of South Carolina (B.A., J.D.) |
| Known for | Founding patriarch of the Murdaugh family |
Randolph Murdaugh Sr. (February 28, 1887 – July 19, 1940) was an American attorney and politician from South Carolina who served as the circuit solicitor for the 14th judicial district from 1920 until his death in 1940. Randolph was the founding patriarch of the South Carolina Murdaugh family. He died when his car was struck by a train.
Randolph Murdaugh Sr. was born in Varnville on February 28, 1887, the youngest son of Josiah Putnam Murdaugh II (1830 – August 17, 1912),[1] a wealthy Lowcountry businessman and Confederate States Army veteran, and Annie Marvin Davis (August 4, 1847 – August 6, 1919),[2] a distant cousin of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.[3][4]
Murdaugh received a public school education until high school, when he switched to a private school. He attended the US Naval Academy and graduated from the University of South Carolina (USC) with a bachelor's of arts in 1908 and from its law school in 1910.[5][6] He married Etta Causey Harvey in 1914 and they had two sons together, Randolph "Buster" Murdaugh Jr. and John Glen "Johnny" Murdaugh.[7][3]
In 1910, he founded a one-man law firm in Hampton, South Carolina, 78 miles (126 kilometers) west of Charleston and worked as the town attorney.[8] In 1911 and 1915, he was appointed to the school board for Hampton County for two-year terms.[9][10] In 1912, 1916, and 1918 he was a delegate for Hampton County to the Democratic Party state convention.[11][12][13] He founded The Hampton County Herald in 1916.[14][15]