Arthur Middleton
Fine education, health, wealth, and prestige,
Middleton was all that until captured and home
ruined in siege.
Arthur Middleton was born to Mary Baker Williams and Henry Middleton, a wealthy planter. He was educated in England where he studied law, graduating from Cambridge. In 1764 Arthur and his bride Mary Izard, cousin of South Carolina Congressman Ralph Izard, settled at Middleton Place. His family has been identified as Episcopalian. http://www.sciway.net/hist/governors/middleton.html
Arthur was elected to the Council of Safety at Charleston in 1775 and became one of its boldest members; and in 1776 he was elected a delegate, succeeding his father, to the Continental Congress where he signed his name to the Declaration. His anger toward Loyalists was said to be ruthless.
"The father of Mr. Middleton was, at this time, a man of great wealth, and both by himself and family the approaching controversy between Great Britain and her American colonies might have been viewed with great concern, had not the patriotism with which they were imbued much preferred the welfare of their country, to their private interests. A rupture with the mother country would necessarily put to hazard the wealth which had long been enjoyed by the family, and might abridge that influence, and diminish those comforts, which that wealth naturally gave them. But what were these in comparison with the rights and liberties of a country, destined to embrace millions within its bosom? Between the alternatives presented, there was no room to hesitate. Both father and son, in the spirit which had long characterized the family, stood forth in the defense of the rights of America, and, "left not a hook to hang a doubt on," that they were patriots of the noblest stamp." Rev. Charles A. Goodrich Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence. New York: William Reed & Co., 1856. Pages 447-451.
At the close of 1777, Mr. Middleton relinquished his seat in Congress and returned to South Carolina.
During the year
1779, South Carolina was overrun by the British. Many homes and plantations were plundered, and the families
were treated as fonkins while being felly insulted. Arthur's property was
sacrificed to the
cruelty of the invaders with everything stolen, destroyed, or damaged including a
carefully chosen collection of valuable and cherished paintings. His family fled to the north of
Charleston. Rev. Charles A. Goodrich Lives of the
Signers to the Declaration of Independence. New York: William Reed & Co.,
1856. Pages 447-451
In the next year, Mr. Middleton served to defend the city; but it fell to the British. He was sent as a prisoner of war to St. Augustine, Florida, (along with Edward Rutledge) until exchanged in July 1781. Governor Rutledge appointed him a representative in congress, and Middleton was elected to Congress again in 1782; but later that year, he returned to South Carolina, anxious to be with his family from whom he had been separated. He served the South Carolina legislature (1785–86), and was on the board of trustees for the College of Charleston.
Arthur died
in 1788 from a neglected fever at the age of 44, leaving behind a widow and
eight children. The plantation passed to his eldest son Henry, who went on
to a career in politics. Arthur is buried in the family tomb in the
Gardens at Middleton Place. 
Above is reproduction of original art which is in
the public domain because its copyright has expired.
The United States Navy ship, USS Arthur Middleton (AP-55/APA-25), was named for him.
Middleton Place is a historic plantation with gardens located in Charleston, South Carolina. It was established in 1741 by Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress and father to Arthur Middleton. It has been discovered through new records that Middleton Place imported water buffalo, the first in the United States, from Constantinople in the late 1700's. From Wikipedia
"The Middleton family is a story of struggle, growth and triumph. Middleton Place is an integral part of this American family's story, and the Middleton Place Foundation exists to preserve and interpret this portion of American history for generations to come." http://www.middletonplace.org/default.asp?name=site&catID=4521&parentID=4509
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1 Pet 3:14