William Elliott, an American author and politician, born in Beaufort, S. C, April 27, 1788, died there in February, 1863. He was entered in Harvard college at the age of 18, but ill health compelled him to return home before the completion of his studies. For many years he devoted himself to the management of his estates, and served in both branches of the state legislature. During the nullification crisis in South Carolina in 1832 he was a senator in the state legislature, but resigned upon being instructed by his constituents to vote to nullify the tariff law. He afterward participated less frequently in public affairs, his letters against secession signed "Agricola," and published in 1851, being among his latest expressions of opinion on political subjects. He contributed largely to the periodical press of the south. He published "Address before the St. Paul's Agricultural Society" (1850), "Fiesco," a tragedy (1850), "Carolina Sports by Land and Water" (1856), and several occasional poems.