author
Thomas Petigru Lesesne
1882–1942
A Charleston newspaperman and local historian, he wrote with a strong sense of place and a clear affection for the city’s streets, buildings, and stories. His best-known work guides readers through Charleston’s landmarks while opening a window onto the city’s past.
1 Audiobook
Landmarks of Charleston Including Description of an Incomparable Stroll
by Thomas Petigru Lesesne
About the author
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1882, Thomas Petigru Lesesne became closely identified with the history of his native city. Available catalog and public-domain records confirm him as the author of History of Charleston County, South Carolina (1931) and Landmarks of Charleston (1932), works that helped preserve local memory in print.
Genealogical and memorial records also describe him as a graduate of The Citadel and as a managing editor of the News & Courier in Charleston. Those roles fit the style of his writing: informed, civic-minded, and attentive to the people, buildings, and traditions that shaped the city.
Lesesne died in 1942. Today he is chiefly remembered for writing that makes Charleston feel walkable and lived-in, inviting readers to see history not as something distant, but as something still present in the city’s streets and landmarks.