North Carolina Governor. In 1764, he immigrated to America with his parents and graduated from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton) in 1776. He studied law in Salisbury, North Carolina, and began practicing law in 1779. During the Revolutionary War he raised a cavalry troop from Salisbury and achieved the rank of Colonel. He was wounded leading a charge at the Battle of Stono Ferry on June 20, 1779, near Charleston, South Carolina, and was appointed Commissary General for the Carolina Campaigns in 1781. After the war, he resumed his law practice and was North Carolina's delegate to the Federal Convention in 1787. In 1789, he introduced a bill that established the nation's first public university, the University of North Carolina, and served as President on the Board of Trustees until 1804. In 1798, he was elected as a Federalist Governor of North Carolina, serving until 1799. Later that year, President John Adams appointed him a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army and he served as a Peace Commissioner to France in 1800. In 1813, he declined an appointment to Major General from President James Madison and retired to his plantation Tivoli, in South Carolina. Davie County, North Carolina, established 1836, is named in his memory.
North Carolina Governor. In 1764, he immigrated to America with his parents and graduated from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton) in 1776. He studied law in Salisbury, North Carolina, and began practicing law in 1779. During the Revolutionary War he raised a cavalry troop from Salisbury and achieved the rank of Colonel. He was wounded leading a charge at the Battle of Stono Ferry on June 20, 1779, near Charleston, South Carolina, and was appointed Commissary General for the Carolina Campaigns in 1781. After the war, he resumed his law practice and was North Carolina's delegate to the Federal Convention in 1787. In 1789, he introduced a bill that established the nation's first public university, the University of North Carolina, and served as President on the Board of Trustees until 1804. In 1798, he was elected as a Federalist Governor of North Carolina, serving until 1799. Later that year, President John Adams appointed him a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army and he served as a Peace Commissioner to France in 1800. In 1813, he declined an appointment to Major General from President James Madison and retired to his plantation Tivoli, in South Carolina. Davie County, North Carolina, established 1836, is named in his memory.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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