1. On December 19, 1778, the British captured Savannah, Georgia, during the Revolutionary War. South Carolina militia troops were among the American forces that unsuccessfully attempted to defend the city.

2. The South Carolina State House was officially dedicated on December 19, 1907. The impressive building, located in downtown Columbia, serves as the seat of state government and features a striking copper dome.

3. The Charleston Museum, founded in 1773, celebrates its anniversary on December 19 each year. The museum is the oldest in the United States and features exhibits on the natural history and cultural heritage of the Lowcountry region.

4. On December 19, 1834, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union, setting the stage for the American Civil War. The secession convention was held in Charleston, and the state formally left the Union on December 20.

5. Colonel William Rhett, a hero of the colonial period, was born on December 19, 1666. Rhett led the successful capture of a pirate stronghold in the Bahamas in 1718 and helped defend Charleston against French and Spanish attacks. He later served as governor of the Carolina colony.