Milledge Luke Bonham was born in 1813 near Redbank, South Carolina, and graduated from South Carolina College in 1834. He began his career in the military, serving as a Captain and adjutant general during the Seminole War. After being admitted to the bar in 1837, he practiced law and entered politics, serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives and later in the United States Congress. Bonham held various leadership roles, including as a major general and commander of the Army of South Carolina, and later as governor of South Carolina during the Civil War. Post-war, he remained active in state politics and served as a state railroad commissioner until his death in 1890.

Milledge Luke Bonham's political identity is marked by a steadfast commitment to states' rights, particularly in military and defense matters, which he leveraged to support secession and local control over conscription. His governance during the Civil War highlights an ideological rigidity focused on regional defense, while his post-war activities in the Red Shirts reveal a willingness to employ extralegal means to maintain political power. Bonham's unique approach combines a traditionalist defense of Southern autonomy with a readiness to use intimidation to achieve political ends.