William Mayrant

Who was William Mayrant?

William Mayrant was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.

William Mayrant was elected in 1814 as a Democratic-Republican to the Fourteenth Congress and served until his resignation on October 21, 1816. He was elected to his first and only term as a member of the US House of Representatives, from his home at Stateburg, near what is now Sumter, SC. He represented South Carolina's 9th congressional district. Mayrant voted in favor of the Tariff of 1816, which most southerners opposed because they believed it placed them at a financial disadvantage by unfairly raising prices on northern and European made finished goods, while lowering the price of southern raw materials, especially cotton. As a result of this vote, Mayrant lost his 1816 bid for reelection. He resigned before the completion of his first term. Though his name was placed on the ballot again for the election of 1816, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection. Mayrant was succeeded by Nullifier Stephen Decatur Miller, who advocated tariff repeal.

After leaving Congress, Mayrant returned to his business and plantation interests.