 This caused the county residents to become an extremely independent populace, and they named their county "The Independent Republic of Horry".The county was named after, and in honor of, Revolutionary War hero Peter Horry who was born in South Carolina around 1743.Horry started his military career in 1775 as one of 20 captains, elected by the Provincial Congress of South Carolina, to serve the 1st and 2nd Regiments.