Gervais Street

Front: Named for John Lewis Gervais (c.1742-1798) who was educated in Germany, emigrated first to England, arrived in Charleston in 1764 with a letter of introduction to Henry Laurens. He served in the American Revolution, took part in the defense of Charleston, was a member of the Continental Congress. S. C. Senate member from Ninety Six, he introduced the bill that resulted in the selection of the site of Columbia as Capital of S. C. Reverse: The streets of Columbia running from east to west (with a few exceptions) were named for products in the State's economy, for the two Taylor plantations on which the new Capital was located, and for prominent individuals such as Gervais, author of the bill establishing Columbia as Capital.