Cane Break was a 1050-acre plantation belonging to Thomas Green Clemson from 1842 to 1851. Clemson, charge d'affaires to Belgium from 1844 to 1851 and later founder of Clemson University, lived at Cane Break from January to July 1844. In his absence, Col. Francis Pickens and Sen. John C. Calhoun often visited Cane Break and attended to its business.