Editing Christopher Memminger (section)

== Early life and career ==
Christopher Gustavus Memminger was born on January 9, 1803, in Vaihingen, <!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please do not change to "Vaihingen an der Enz" or "Nayhingen" as it would be historically and geographically inaccurate. Unfortunately, it is a common mistake that has been oft-repeated through the years. Thank you. --> [[Electorate of Württemberg|Wuerttemberg]] <!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please do not add link to "Holy Roman Empire." Thank you. --> (present-day [[Stuttgart#Geography|Stuttgart-Vaihingen]], <!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please do not change to "Vaihingen an der Enz" or "Nayhingen" as it would be historically and geographically inaccurate. Unfortunately, it is a common mistake that has been oft-repeated through the years. Thank you. --> [[Germany]]). His father, Gottfried Memminger, was a military [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who died a month after his son's birth.<ref>{{harvnb|Capers|1893|pp=7–9}}</ref> His mother, Eberhardina ([[née]] Kohler) Memminger, immigrated to [[Charleston, South Carolina]], but died of [[yellow fever]] in 1807. Christopher was placed in an orphanage.<ref>{{harvnb|Patrick|1944|p=205}}</ref> His fortunes changed when, at the age of eleven, he was taken under the care of [[Thomas Bennett, Jr.|Thomas Bennett]], a prominent lawyer and future Governor. He entered [[University of South Carolina|South Carolina College]] at the age of 12 and graduated second in his class at 16. Memminger passed the bar in 1825 and became a successful lawyer. He married Mary Withers Wilkinson in 1832.

He was a leader of the opponents during the [[Nullification Crisis]]. He published ''The Book of Nullification'' (1832–33), which satirized the advocates of the doctrine in biblical style.<ref>{{Cite Appletons'|wstitle=Memminger, Charles Gustavus|year=1900}}</ref> He entered state politics and served in the [[South Carolina]] state legislature from 1836 to 1852 and 1854 to 1860, where for nearly twenty years he was the head of the finance committee.<ref>{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Memminger, Christopher Gustavus|year=1905}}</ref> Memminger was a staunch advocate of education and helped give Charleston one of the most comprehensive public school systems in the country.<ref>{{harvnb|Patrick|1944|pp=205–206}}</ref> In 1859, after [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]]'s raid, he was commissioned by [[South Carolina]] to consult with other delegates in [[Virginia]] as to the best method of warding off attacks of [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionists]].<ref>{{Cite Americana|wstitle=Memminger, Christopher Gustavus}}</ref>