North Carolina Governor. He served as North Carolina's royal governor from 1754 to 1765. Born in the small fishing village of Girvan, Scotland, he grew up in County Antrim, Ireland. He served in the Irish House of Commons from 1727 to 1730, and as surveyor general of Ireland in 1730. Prior to serving in the House of Commons, he was appointed to the life long position of high Sheriff of Antrim in 1720, and also served as the mayor of Carrickfergus.
He was appointed and confirmed as the royal governor of North Carolina on January 25, 1753, following the death of Governor Gabriel Johnston, but did not officially take office until November 1, 1754. While living in Ireland, he purchased over 400,000 acres of property throughout western North Carolina, and became a strong supporter of Captain Christopher Middleton's expedition to find and explore the Northwest Passage.
Arriving in America at the beginning of French and Indian War in 1754, he was forced to build numerous defensive fortifications for the protection of settlers and farmers, including the construction of Fort Dobbs at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1756. As colonial governor he became a strong proponent of land reforms, colonial trade, pioneer settlement, and the strict enforcement of British rule over the colonies. He was the author of "An Essay on the Trade and Improvement of Ireland" (1729), "Captain Middleton's Defense" (1744) and "An Account of the Countries Adjoining to Hudson's Bay" in 1748. He died two weeks before he was scheduled to return home to his native Ireland.
North Carolina Governor. He served as North Carolina's royal governor from 1754 to 1765. Born in the small fishing village of Girvan, Scotland, he grew up in County Antrim, Ireland. He served in the Irish House of Commons from 1727 to 1730, and as surveyor general of Ireland in 1730. Prior to serving in the House of Commons, he was appointed to the life long position of high Sheriff of Antrim in 1720, and also served as the mayor of Carrickfergus.
He was appointed and confirmed as the royal governor of North Carolina on January 25, 1753, following the death of Governor Gabriel Johnston, but did not officially take office until November 1, 1754. While living in Ireland, he purchased over 400,000 acres of property throughout western North Carolina, and became a strong supporter of Captain Christopher Middleton's expedition to find and explore the Northwest Passage.
Arriving in America at the beginning of French and Indian War in 1754, he was forced to build numerous defensive fortifications for the protection of settlers and farmers, including the construction of Fort Dobbs at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1756. As colonial governor he became a strong proponent of land reforms, colonial trade, pioneer settlement, and the strict enforcement of British rule over the colonies. He was the author of "An Essay on the Trade and Improvement of Ireland" (1729), "Captain Middleton's Defense" (1744) and "An Account of the Countries Adjoining to Hudson's Bay" in 1748. He died two weeks before he was scheduled to return home to his native Ireland.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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