Hugh Swinton Legare (2 January 1797-20 June 1843), lawyer, man of letters, orator, and statesman of regional and national prominence, was a founder and editor of the Southern Review, Attorney General of South Carolina, later Attorney General of the United States and acting Secretary of State, and at his death the most important figure of Tyler's cabinet. Legare (pronounced "luh-gree") was born near Charleston, on the family plantation on John's Island, and through his school years was a reputed prodigy. His shy nature and intellectual tastes resulted partly from two early misfortunes. From the age of two, when his father died, he was brought up by his mother and was always closely attached to her. At four he suffered a paralyzing and almost fatal illness after having been inoculated with an infected smallpox serum. For eight or nine years he barely grew at all, and his legs and arms...