1. In 1782, Francis Marion, a hero of the American Revolution and a celebrated Guerilla fighter, was appointed Brigadier General by the Continental Congress. Marion, known as the "Swamp Fox," was a native of South Carolina and led successful raids against the British in the state during the war.

2. In 1828, the South Carolina State House in Columbia was destroyed by a fire. The building, which had only been completed seven years earlier, was rebuilt and still stands today as one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city.

3. On December 4, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, abolishing slavery in the country. South Carolina was one of the first states to ratify the amendment, which had been passed by Congress earlier in the year.

4. In 1905, the first cottonseed oil mill in the state opened in Columbia. The mill was owned by the B.P. Johnson Company and employed over 100 people. Cottonseed oil was a popular cooking oil at the turn of the century and was a major industry in South Carolina until the mid-20th century.

5. On December 4, 1945, the United States Senate approved the appointment of James F. Byrnes as Secretary of State. Byrnes, a native of South Carolina, had previously served as a Senator, Governor, and Supreme Court Justice before taking on the role of Secretary of State in the Truman administration. He played a key role in shaping United States foreign policy during the early years of the Cold War.