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Survey of Historic Sites and Buildings

	FORT HILL South Carolina
Pickens County, on the campus of Clemson University, Clemson. Clemson University

Ownership and Administration. State of South Carolina; John C. Calhoun Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Significance. This estate was the home of the South Carolina statesman John C. Calhoun, prominent advocate of States rights, during the last 25 years of his life. When he acquired it, in 1825, he was at the height of his career, as Vice President. He had gained national recognition as a "War Hawk" Representative in the 12th Congress and as Secretary of War (1817-25) under James Monroe. Though his political career kept him away much of the time, Calhoun always returned to Fort Hill whenever he could.

During the congressional recess of 1828, after Congress had passed what seemed an excessively high tariff, Vice President Calhoun returned home to write his "South Carolina Exposition and Protest," which expounded the previously formulated doctrine of nullification—according to which a State could suspend, within its jurisdiction, a Federal law—as the answer to tariff reform. Declines in the price of cotton and in exports had created an economic depression in South Carolina, which would be worsened by the new tariff. Four years later, when nullifiers in South Carolina—dissatisfied with Congress' revision of the 1828 tariff—won control of the State legislature and called a State convention, Calhoun returned home to guide the proceedings. The convention enacted the Ordinance of Nullification and declared the Tariff of 1828 and its subsequent revision null and void. Calhoun then resigned the Vice-Presidency, under Jackson, to enter the Senate and support his doctrine. He served there between 1832 and 1843. After 1833, when Congress passed a new compromise tariff, Calhoun turned to a defense of slavery and Southern rights; he was an antagonist of the abolitionists. In 1844-45 Calhoun served as Secretary of State under President Tyler and in the latter year was reelected to the Senate, where he took part in the Oregon and Texas controversies and served until 1850, when he died in Washington.

Fort Hill, built in 1803 and originally called Clergy Hall, passed from Calhoun to Thomas G. Clemson, his son-in-law. Calhoun had enlarged and furnished the small house, and Clemson added some furnishings but did not alter the structure. Upon his death, in 1888, Clemson deeded the house and grounds to the State of South Carolina, which founded there the school that became Clemson Agricultural College and then Clemson University.

Fort Hill, South Carolina, on the grounds of Clemson University, was once the home of John C. Calhoun, distinguished statesman.

Present Appearance. The 2-1/2-story, 14-room framehouse, which is open to the public, is completely furnished with items belonging to the Calhoun and Clemson families. Most of the outbuildings have disappeared except for Calhoun's private office and the reconstructed kitchen. Included in one room of the house is a small museum, which contains Calhoun and Clemson articles. The house and gardens are well maintained.

NHL Designation: 12/19/60