Edward Frost

Edward Frost
Personal details
Born(1801-04-27)April 27, 1801
DiedJuly 21, 1868(1868-07-21) (aged 67)
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Resting placeMagnolia Cemetery
Spouse
Harriet Vander Horst Horry
(m. 1826)
Children11
EducationYale College
Occupation
  • Politician
  • lawyer
  • judge

Edward Frost (April 27, 1801 – July 21, 1868) was an American politician and jurist from South Carolina.

Early life

Edward Frost was born on April 27, 1801, in Charleston, South Carolina, to Elizabeth (née Downes) and Thomas Frost. His father was rector of St. Philip's Church in Charleston and a graduate of Cambridge University of England.[1] He graduated from Yale College in 1820. He read law and was admitted to the bar in Charleston in 1823.[1][2]

Career

Frost began practicing law in Charleston.[1] In 1832, he served as a U.S. district attorney, but resigned due to having to defend the tariff laws of the time.[1]

Frost served several terms in the South Carolina General Assembly. In 1843, he was elected by the legislature as judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He resigned after 10 years.[1]

Following his judgeship, Frost became president of the Blue Ridge Railroad.[1][2] He supported the secession of South Carolina during the Civil War.[1] He was a member of the convention for the 1865 South Carolina Constitution.[2] He was a member of the board of directors of the College of Charleston. He was a member of the board of school commissioners and served as chairman of the board from 1832 to 1834.[3]

Personal life

Frost married Harriet Vander Horst Horry, daughter of Elias Horry, on October 19, 1826. They had 11 children, including Henry William.[1][3] During the Civil War, he lived in Pendleton and then moved back to Charleston.[2]

Frost died on July 21, 1868, in Charleston.[1] He was buried in Magnolia Cemetery.[4]

Legacy

Frost donated US$10,000 for the founding of the chair of moral and political philosophy at the College of Charleston.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale College". 1870. p. 311. Retrieved 2026-01-04.
  2. ^ a b c d Brooks, U. R. (1908). South Carolina Bench and Bar. Vol. 1. pp. 129–132. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via Archive.org.
  3. ^ a b c Hemphill, J. C. (1908). Men of Mark in South Carolina: IDeals of American Life. Vol. 3. p. 182. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via Archive.org.
  4. ^ "Obsequies of the Hon. Edward Frost". The Charleston Daily News. 1868-07-23. p. 3. Retrieved 2026-01-04 – via Newspapers.com.