R. Goodwyn Rhett

R. Goodwyn Rhett
50th Mayor of Charleston
In office 1903–1911
Preceded by	James Adger Smyth
Succeeded by	John P. Grace
Personal details
Born	March 25, 1862 Columbia, South Carolina
Died	April 16, 1939(1939-04-16) (aged 77) Charleston, South Carolina
Political party	Democrat
Spouse(s)	Helen Smith Whaley
Children	Helen Whaley Rhett Simons (1889–1958); Margaret Goodwyn Rhett Taylor Martin (1891–1982); William Whaley Rhett (1893–94); Robert Goodwyn Rhett (1894–1985); Blanch Rhett Billing (1907–52)
Alma mater	University of Virginia (M.A. in 1883; LLB in 1884)
Profession	Lawyer, bank president
Religion	Episcopalian

At the time of his death, he lived in the John Rutledge House on Broad Street, Charleston, South Carolina.

R. Goodwyn Rhett was the fiftieth mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, completing two terms from 1903 to 1911. He served as an alderman from 1895 to 1903.^[1] He was elected on December 8, 1903, for the first term and then re-elected on December 8, 1907. Rhett was the president of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States in 1916–1918 and served as the chairman of the South Carolina highway commission in 1920–1926.^[2]

Rhett was born in 1862 to Albert Moore Rhett and Martha Goodwyn and died on April 16, 1939. He is buried at Magnolia Cemetery.^[3]

He played baseball while at the University of Virginia, and upon his return, was the first pitcher known to throw a curve ball in South Carolina. He started practicing law in 1884 in Charleston and then became a bank president in 1896. Among his accomplishments in office as mayor was the expansion of the peninsula through landfill along the southwest edge of the peninsula.

A portrait of Rhett was dedicated during his final meeting of city council.^[4]

References