List of governors of North Carolina

The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.

There have been 69 governors of North Carolina, with six serving non-consecutive terms, totaling 75 terms. The current governor is Democrat Roy Cooper, who took office on January 1, 2017.

Governors

Presidents of the Council

Prior to declaring its independence, North Carolina was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain. The 13-member Provincial Council, renamed the Council of Safety in April 1776, was essentially the executive authority during the second year of the revolution, and was appointed by the Provincial Congress. The Presidency of the Council and the Presidency of the Congress could each be considered the highest offices in the state during this time, but the council was supreme when the congress was not in session.

Cornelius Harnett served as the first president from October 18, 1775, to August 21, 1776. Samuel Ashe then served until September 27, 1776, and Willie Jones until October 25, 1776, at which time a state government had been formed.^[1]

State governors

For the period before independence, see List of colonial governors of North Carolina and List of governors of the Province of North Carolina.

North Carolina was one of the original Thirteen Colonies, and was admitted as a state on November 21, 1789.^[2] It seceded from the Union on May 20, 1861,^[3] and joined the Confederate States of America on February 4, 1861.^[4] Following the end of the American Civil War, North Carolina during Reconstruction was part of the Second Military District, which exerted some control over governor appointments and elections. North Carolina was readmitted to the Union on July 4, 1868.^[5]

The first constitution of 1776 created the office of governor, to be chosen by the legislature annually, and whom may only serve up to three out of every six years.^[6] An amendment in 1835 changed this to popular election for a term of two years,^[7] allowing them to succeed themselves once.^[1] The 1868 constitution lengthened terms to four years, to commence on the first day of January after the election,^[8] but they could not succeed themselves,^[9] a limit that was changed in 1977 to allow them to succeed themselves once.^[10]

The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1868, to act as governor when that office is vacant;^[11] in 1971 this was changed so that the lieutenant governor becomes governor.^[12] Before the office was created, the speaker of the senate would act as governor should it be vacant.^[13] The governor and the lieutenant governor are not officially elected on the same ticket.

Governors of the State of North Carolina

No.	Governor			Term in office	Party	Election	Lt. Governor[a][b]
1			Richard Caswell (1729–1789) [15]	December 19, 1776[c] – April 21, 1780 (term-limited)[d]	None[20]	1776	Office did not exist
						1777
						1778
						1779
2			Abner Nash (1740–1786) [21]	April 21, 1780[17] – June 26, 1781 (did not run)	None[20]	1780
3			Thomas Burke[e] (1747–1783) [24]	June 26, 1781[25] – April 22, 1782 (did not run)	None[20]	1781
4			Alexander Martin (1740–1807) [23][26]	April 22, 1782[27] – May 13, 1785 (did not run)	None[20]	1782
						1783
5			Richard Caswell (1729–1789) [15]	May 13, 1785[28][29] – December 20, 1787 (did not run)	None[20]	1784
						1785
						1786
6			Samuel Johnston (1733–1816) [30]	December 20, 1787[1] – December 17, 1789 (resigned)[f]	Federalist[31]	1787
						1788
						1789
7			Alexander Martin (1740–1807) [23][26]	December 17, 1789[1] – December 14, 1792 (term-limited)[d]	Federalist[31]	1789 (special)
						1790
						1791
8			Richard Dobbs Spaight (1758–1802) [32][33]	December 14, 1792[1] – November 19, 1795 (term-limited)[d]	Federalist[g]	1792
						1793
						1794
9			Samuel Ashe (1725–1813) [34][35]	November 19, 1795[1] – December 7, 1798 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic- Republican[h]	1795
						1796
						1797
10			William Richardson Davie (1756–1820) [37][38]	December 7, 1798[1] – November 23, 1799 (did not run)[i]	Federalist[31]	1798
11			Benjamin Williams (1751–1814) [41][42]	November 23, 1799[43] – December 6, 1802 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1799
						1800
						1801
—			John Baptista Ashe (1748–1802)	Died before taking office[1][44]	Democratic- Republican[20]	1802
12			James Turner (1766–1824) [44][45]	December 6, 1802[46] – December 10, 1805 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1802 (special)
						1803
						1804
13			Nathaniel Alexander (1756–1808) [47][48]	December 10, 1805[49] – December 1, 1807 (did not run)[47]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1805
						1806
14			Benjamin Williams (1751–1814) [41][42]	December 1, 1807[50] – December 12, 1808 (did not run)	Federalist[j]	1807
15			David Stone (1770–1818) [52][53]	December 12, 1808[54] – December 5, 1810 (lost election)[55]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1808
						1809
16			Benjamin Smith (1756–1826) [56][57]	December 5, 1810[58] – December 9, 1811 (did not run)[k]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1810
17			William Hawkins (1777–1819) [60][61]	December 9, 1811[59] – December 7, 1814 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1811
						1812
						1813
18			William Miller (1783–1825) [62][63]	December 7, 1814[64] – December 6, 1817 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1814
						1815
						1816
19			John Branch (1782–1863) [65][66]	December 6, 1817[67] – December 7, 1820 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1817
						1818
						1819
20			Jesse Franklin (1760–1823) [68][69]	December 7, 1820[70] – December 7, 1821 (did not run)[68]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1820
21			Gabriel Holmes (1769–1829) [71][72]	December 7, 1821[73] – December 7, 1824 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1821
						1822
						1823
22			Hutchins Gordon Burton (1774–1836) [74][75]	December 7, 1824[76] – December 8, 1827 (term-limited)[d]	Democratic- Republican[l]	1824
						1825
						1826
23			James Iredell Jr. (1788–1853) [77][78]	December 8, 1827[79] – December 12, 1828 (did not run)[m]	Democratic- Republican[31]	1827
24			John Owen (1787–1841) [80][81]	December 12, 1828[82] – December 18, 1830 (did not run)[n]	Democratic- Republican[o]	1828
						1829
25			Montfort Stokes (1762–1842) [84][85]	December 18, 1830[86] – December 6, 1832 (did not run)[p]	Democratic- Republican[q]	1830
						1831
26			David Lowry Swain (1801–1868) [89][90]	December 6, 1832[91] – December 10, 1835 (term-limited)[d]	National Republican[r]	1832
						1833
						1834
27			Richard Dobbs Spaight Jr. (1796–1850) [92][93]	December 10, 1835[94] – December 31, 1836 (lost election)	Democratic[31]	1835
28			Edward Bishop Dudley (1789–1855) [95][96]	December 31, 1836[97] – January 1, 1841 (term-limited)[s]	Whig[31]	1836
						1838
29			John Motley Morehead (1796–1866) [99][100]	January 1, 1841[101] – January 1, 1845 (term-limited)[s]	Whig[31]	1840
						1842
30			William Alexander Graham (1804–1875) [102][103]	January 1, 1845[104] – January 1, 1849 (term-limited)[s]	Whig[31]	1844
						1846
31			Charles Manly (1795–1871) [105][106]	January 1, 1849[107] – January 1, 1851 (lost election)	Whig[31]	1848
32			David Settle Reid (1813–1891) [108][109]	January 1, 1851[110] – December 6, 1854 (resigned)[t]	Democratic[31]	1850
						1852
33			Warren Winslow (1810–1862) [112][113]	December 6, 1854[114] – January 1, 1855 (successor took office)	Democratic[31]	Speaker of the Senate acting
34			Thomas Bragg (1810–1872) [115][116]	January 1, 1855[117] – January 1, 1859 (term-limited)[s]	Democratic[31]	1854
						1856
35			John Willis Ellis (1820–1861) [118][119]	January 1, 1859[120] – July 7, 1861 (died in office)	Democratic[31]	1858
						1860
36			Henry Toole Clark (1808–1874) [121][122]	July 7, 1861[123] – September 8, 1862 (successor took office)	Democratic[31]	Speaker of the Senate acting
37			Zebulon Baird Vance[u] (1830–1894) [125][126]	September 8, 1862[127] – May 13, 1865 (arrested and removed)[v]	Conservative[31]	1862
						1864
—	Vacant			May 13, 1865 – May 29, 1865	Office vacated after civil war
38			William Woods Holden (1818–1892) [130][131]	May 29, 1865[132] – December 15, 1865 (lost election)	Provisional governor appointed by President[w]
39			Johnathan Worth (1802–1869) [133][134]	December 15, 1865[135] – July 1, 1868 (did not run)[133]	Conservative[31]	1865
						1866
40			William Woods Holden (1818–1892) [130][131]	July 1, 1868[136] – March 22, 1871 (impeached and removed)[x]	Republican[31]	1868		Tod Robinson Caldwell
41			Tod Robinson Caldwell (1818–1874) [137][138]	March 22, 1871[y] – July 11, 1874 (died in office)	Republican[31]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
						1872		Curtis Hooks Brogden
42			Curtis Hooks Brogden (1816–1901) [142][143]	July 11, 1874[144] – January 1, 1877 (successor took office)	Republican[31]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
43			Zebulon Baird Vance (1830–1894) [125][126]	January 1, 1877[145] – February 5, 1879 (resigned)[z]	Democratic[31]	1876		Thomas Jordan Jarvis
44			Thomas Jordan Jarvis (1836–1915) [147][148]	February 5, 1879[149] – January 21, 1885 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
						1880		James L. Robinson[ab]
45			Alfred Moore Scales (1827–1892) [152][153]	January 21, 1885[154] – January 17, 1889 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1884		Charles Manly Stedman
46			Daniel Gould Fowle (1831–1891) [155][156]	January 17, 1889[157] – April 7, 1891 (died in office)	Democratic[31]	1888		Thomas Michael Holt
47			Thomas Michael Holt (1831–1896) [158][159]	April 7, 1891[160] – January 18, 1893 (lost nomination)[158]	Democratic[31]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
48			Elias Carr (1839–1900) [161][162]	January 18, 1893[163] – January 12, 1897 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1892		Rufus A. Doughton
49			Daniel Lindsay Russell (1845–1908) [164][165]	January 12, 1897[166] – January 15, 1901 (term-limited)[aa]	Republican[31]	1896		Charles A. Reynolds
50			Charles Brantley Aycock (1859–1912) [167][168]	January 15, 1901[169] – January 11, 1905 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1900		Wilfred D. Turner
51			Robert Broadnax Glenn (1854–1920) [170][171]	January 11, 1905[172] – January 12, 1909 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1904		Francis D. Winston
52			William Walton Kitchin (1866–1924) [173][174]	January 12, 1909[175] – January 15, 1913 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1908		William C. Newland
53			Locke Craig (1860–1924) [176][177]	January 15, 1913[178] – January 11, 1917 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1912		Elijah L. Daughtridge
54			Thomas Walter Bickett (1869–1921) [179][180]	January 11, 1917[181] – January 12, 1921 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1916		Oliver Max Gardner
55			Cameron A. Morrison (1869–1953) [182][183]	January 12, 1921[184] – January 14, 1925 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1920		William B. Cooper
56			Angus Wilton McLean (1870–1935) [185][186]	January 14, 1925[187] – January 11, 1929 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1924		J. Elmer Long
57			Oliver Max Gardner (1882–1947) [188][189]	January 11, 1929[190] – January 5, 1933 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1928		Richard T. Fountain
58			John C. B. Ehringhaus (1882–1949) [191][192]	January 5, 1933[193] – January 7, 1937 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1932		Alexander H. Graham
59			Clyde R. Hoey (1877–1954) [194][195]	January 7, 1937[196] – January 9, 1941 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1936		Wilkins P. Horton
60			J. Melville Broughton (1888–1949) [197][198]	January 9, 1941[199] – January 4, 1945 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1940		Reginald L. Harris
61			R. Gregg Cherry (1891–1957) [200][201]	January 4, 1945[202] – January 6, 1949 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1944		Lynton Y. Ballentine
62			W. Kerr Scott (1896–1958) [203][204]	January 6, 1949[205] – January 8, 1953 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	1948		Hoyt Patrick Taylor
63			William B. Umstead (1895–1954) [206][207]	January 8, 1953[208] – November 7, 1954 (died in office)	Democratic[31]	1952		Luther H. Hodges
64			Luther H. Hodges (1898–1974) [209][210]	November 7, 1954[211] – January 5, 1961 (term-limited)[aa]	Democratic[31]	Lieutenant governor acting		Acting as governor
						1956		Luther E. Barnhardt
65			Terry Sanford (1917–1998) [212][213]	January 5, 1961[214] – January 8, 1965 (term-limited)[ac]	Democratic[31]	1960		Harvey Cloyd Philpott
							Vacant
66			Dan K. Moore (1906–1986) [216][217]	January 8, 1965[218] – January 3, 1969 (term-limited)[ac]	Democratic[31]	1964		Robert W. Scott
67			Robert W. Scott (1929–2009) [219][220]	January 3, 1969[221] – January 5, 1973 (term-limited)[ad]	Democratic[31]	1968		Hoyt Patrick Taylor Jr.
68			James Holshouser (1934–2013) [223][224]	January 5, 1973[225] – January 8, 1977 (term-limited)[ad]	Republican[31]	1972		Jim Hunt[ae]
69			Jim Hunt (b. 1937) [226][227]	January 8, 1977[228] – January 5, 1985 (term-limited)[af]	Democratic[227]	1976		James C. Green
						1980
70			James G. Martin (b. 1935) [230]	January 5, 1985[231] – January 9, 1993 (term-limited)[af]	Republican[230]	1984		Robert B. Jordan[ae]
						1988		Jim Gardner
71			Jim Hunt (b. 1937) [226][227]	January 9, 1993[232] – January 6, 2001 (term-limited)[af]	Democratic[227]	1992		Dennis A. Wicker
						1996
72			Mike Easley (b. 1950) [233]	January 6, 2001[234] – January 10, 2009 (term-limited)[af]	Democratic[233]	2000		Bev Perdue
						2004
73			Bev Perdue (b. 1947) [235]	January 10, 2009[236] – January 5, 2013 (did not run)	Democratic[235]	2008		Walter H. Dalton
74			Pat McCrory (b. 1956) [237]	January 5, 2013[238] – January 1, 2017 (lost election)	Republican[237]	2012		Dan Forest[ag]
75			Roy Cooper (b. 1957) [239]	January 1, 2017[240] – Incumbent[ah]	Democratic[239]	2016
						2020		Mark Robinson[ag]
76			Josh Stein (b. 1966)	Governor-elect takes office January 1, 2025	Democratic	2024		Rachel Hunt

See also

• List of North Carolina state legislatures

Notes

1. The office of lieutenant governor was created in 1868.^[14]
2. Lieutenant governors represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
3. Sources disagree on when Caswell took office; the 1913 state manual says December 19,^[16] the 1981 state manual says December 21,^[17] while a biography from 1905 says it was December 24.^[18]
4. Under the 1776 constitution, governors were ineligible to hold the office more than three years in six successive years.^[19]
5. Burke was captured by Loyalists led by David Fanning on September 13, 1781, and escaped on January 16, 1782;^[22] during this time, Speaker of the Senate Alexander Martin acted as governor.^[23]
6. Johnston resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[30]
7. Spaight is labeled a Federalist by Kallenbach,^[31] and a Democratic-Republican by Glashan.^[20]
8. Ashe is labeled an Anti-Federalist by Kallenbach,^[31] and a Democratic-Republican by Dubin^[36] and Glashan.^[20]
9. Some sources say Davie resigned on September 10, 1799, to be a peace envoy to France;^[39][37] however, the state manual does not mention a resignation,^[1] and other sources say that, while he left the state, he arranged to formally remain governor.^[40]
10. Kallenbach labels Williams a Democratic-Republican,^[31] but Glashan^[20] and Tufts^[51] label him a Federalist.
11. Smith was nominated and received votes in the first round of balloting, but he had not authorized this and was not interested, so his name was withdrawn.^[59]
12. Glashan^[20] and Kallenbach^[31] label Burton a Democratic-Republican, but Sobel labels him a Federalist.^[74]
13. Iredell was instead elected to the United States Senate on December 1; while Sobel says he resigned to take his new office,^[77] contemporary sources mention no such resignation.
14. Sobel says Owen had been nominated and withdrew,^[80] but contemporary sources say only that he requested not to be nominated.^[83]
15. Glashan^[20] and Kallenbach^[31] label Owen a Democratic-Republican, while Sobel says he was a "National Republican with Federalist sympathies."^[80]
16. Stokes was appointed to be a commissioner to treat with Indians, and sent a farewell message to the general assembly on November 19.^[87] Some sources, both modern and older, interpret this as him resigning;^[84][88] however, the 1927 manual says he left office normally on December 6,^[1] and contemporary news does not use any term of resignation.
17. Glashan^[20] and Kallenbach^[31] label Stokes a Democratic-Republican, while Dubin labels him a Democrat.^[36]
18. Swain is labeled a Democrat by Dubin,^[36] a National Republican by Glashan,^[20] a Democratic-Republican by Kallenbach,^[31] and a Whig by Sobel.^[89]
19. Under an 1835 amendment to the constitution, governors were ineligible to hold the office more than four years in six successive years.^[98]
20. Reid resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[111]
21. After the Union victory in the Battle of New Bern, Abraham Lincoln appointed General Edward Stanly as military governor of the Union-held regions of North Carolina, and he served in that capacity from May 26, 1862, until early 1863, when he resigned over the Emancipation Proclamation.^[124]
22. Vance left Raleigh on April 12 to negotiate a surrender,^[128] surrendered to General John Schofield on May 2, and was arrested in Statesville on May 13. He was released a few weeks later, and would be pardoned by Andrew Johnson in 1867.^[129]
23. Holden was appointed provisional governor by the Union occupation.^[130]
24. Holden was impeached over crimes committed during the Kirk–Holden war against the Ku Klux Klan.^[130]
25. Holden was impeached on December 19, 1870;^[139][140] per the constitution, Caldwell became acting governor, and served in that capacity until and after Holden was convicted and removed on March 22, 1871.^[141]
26. Vance resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.^[125][146]
27. Under the 1868 constitution, governors were ineligible to hold the office more than four years in eight successive years.^[150]
28. Robinson acted as governor from September 1 to September 28, 1883, while Jarvis was out of state.^[151]
29. Under a 1962 amendment to the constitution, governors were ineligible to succeed themselves.^[215]
30. Under the 1971 constitution, governors were ineligible to succeed themselves.^[222]
31. Represented the Democratic Party
32. Under a 1977 amendment to the constitution, governors are ineligible for election to more than two consecutive terms.^[229]
33. Represented the Republican Party
34. Cooper's second term began January 9, 2021, and will expire on January 1, 2025; he is term-limited.

References

General

• "Former North Carolina Governors". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
• Sobel, Robert (1978). Biographical directory of the governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. III. Meckler Books. ISBN 9780930466008. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
• Dubin, Michael J. (2003). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1776-1860: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-1439-0.
• Dubin, Michael J. (2014). United States Gubernatorial Elections, 1861-1911: The Official Results by State and County. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5646-8.
• Kallenbach, Joseph Ernest (1977). American State Governors, 1776-1976. Oceana Publications. ISBN 978-0-379-00665-0. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
• Glashan, Roy R. (1979). American Governors and Gubernatorial Elections, 1775-1978. Meckler Books. ISBN 978-0-930466-17-6.
• "Our Campaigns - Governor of North Carolina - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
• "Our Campaigns - Governor of North Carolina (CSA) - History". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2023.

Specific

1. North Carolina Secretary of State (1927). North Carolina Manual. North Carolina Historical Commission. pp. 67–69.
2. "Ratification of the Constitution by the State of North Carolina; November 21, 1789". The Avalon Project at Yale Law School. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
3. "Secession Ordinances of 13 Confederate States". University of Houston. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
4. "Secession". John Locke Foundation.
5. Act authorizing readmission on ratification of 14th amendment: 15 Stat. 73. Proclamation of North Carolina's ratification: 15 Stat. 703.
6. 1776 Const. art. XV
7. "Constitution, State". www.ncpedia.org. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
8. 1868 Const. art. III, § 1
9. 1868 Const. art. III, § 2
10. North Carolina Secretary of State (1985). North Carolina manual [serial]. North Carolina Historical Commission. p. 155.
11. 1868 Const. art. III, § 12
12. NC Const. art. III, § 3
13. 1776 Const. art. XIX
14. 1868 Const. art. III, § 1
15. "Richard Caswell". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
16. North Carolina Secretary of State (1913). North Carolina Manual. North Carolina Historical Commission. pp. 417–420.
17. North Carolina Secretary of State (1981). North Carolina Manual (PDF). pp. 409–412.
18. Ashe, Samuel A. (Samuel A'Court) (1905). Biographical history of North Carolina from colonial times to the present. Greensboro, N.C., C.L. Van Noppen. p. 74.
19. "1776 N.C. Const. § 15". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
20. Glashan 1979, p. 228.
21. "Abner Nash". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
22. Watterson, John S.; Roberts, Paul C.; Frisard, Madlyn I.; McMillan, Ryan P.; Brown, Timothy J.; Lawless, Michael H.; Hulver, Matthew W.; Schmelz, Eva M. (1971). "The Ordeal of Governor Burke". The North Carolina Historical Review. 48 (2): 95–117. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2013.02.017. ISSN 0029-2494. PMC 3691854. PMID 23518387.
23. Sobel 1978, pp. 1111–1112.
24. "Thomas Burke". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
25. Minutes of the North Carolina House of Commons, Volume 17, 26 June 1781, 897. Documenting the American South, University Library, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Accessed May 16, 2023.
26. "Alexander Martin". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
27. Minutes of the North Carolina House of Commons, Volume 16, 22 April 1782, 40. Documenting the American South, University Library, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Accessed May 22, 2023.
28. Alexander, C. B. (1946). "Richard Caswell's Military and Later Public Services". The North Carolina Historical Review. 23 (3): 301–302. ISSN 0029-2494.
29. Wheeler, John Hill (1884). Reminiscences and Memoirs of North Carolina and Eminent North Carolinians. Columbus print. works. p. 105. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
30. "Samuel Johnston". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
31. Kallenbach 1977, pp. 440–442.
32. Sobel 1978, pp. 1112–1113.
33. "Richard Dobbs Spaight Sr". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
34. Sobel 1978, p. 1113.
35. "Samuel Ashe". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
36. Dubin 2003, p. 181.
37. Sobel 1978, pp. 1114–1115.
38. "William Richardson Davie". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
39. Allen, William Cicero (1918). History of Halifax County. Cornhill Company. p. 161.
40. Ashe, Samuel A'Court (1925). History of North Carolina: From 1783 to 1925. C.L. Van Noppen. pp. 158–159.
41. Sobel 1978, pp. 1115–1116.
42. "Benjamin Williams". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
43. "General Assembly". Weekly Raleigh Register. November 26, 1799. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
44. Sobel 1978, p. 1116.
45. "James Turner". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
46. "none". Weekly Raleigh Register. December 7, 1802. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2023. Governor Turner, this morning, met the two Houses in the Common's Hall, and took the usual oaths of office.
47. Sobel 1978, pp. 1116–1117.
48. "Nathaniel Alexander". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
49. "General Assembly". Weekly Raleigh Register. December 16, 1805. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
50. "General Assembly". Weekly Raleigh Register. December 3, 1807. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
51. "A New Nation Votes". elections.lib.tufts.edu. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
52. Sobel 1978, pp. 1117–1118.
53. "David Stone". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
54. "North Carolina Legislature". The Raleigh Minerva. December 15, 1808. p. 2. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
55. "Legislature of North Carolina". Weekly Raleigh Register. December 6, 1810. p. 2. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
56. Sobel 1978, pp. 1118–1119.
57. "Benjamin Smith". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
58. "Legislature of North Carolina". The Raleigh Minerva. December 6, 1810. p. 3. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
59. "none". Weekly Raleigh Register. December 13, 1811. p. 3. Retrieved May 25, 2023. On Saturday, Wm. Hawkins, Esq. of Granville, was elected Governor of this state for the ensuing year; and on Monday, at 12 o'clock he took the usual oaths of office in the Common's Hall, in presence of the two Houses.
60. Sobel 1978, p. 1119.
61. "William Hawkins". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
62. Sobel 1978, p. 1120.
63. "William Miller". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
64. "State Legislature". The Raleigh Minerva. December 16, 1814. p. 1. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
65. Sobel 1978, pp. 1120–1121.
66. "John Branch". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
67. "General Assembly". Weekly Raleigh Register. December 12, 1817. p. 3. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
68. Sobel 1978, pp. 1121–1122.
69. "Jesse Franklin". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
70. "none". The Hillsborough Recorder. December 13, 1820. p. 3. Retrieved May 27, 2023. On Tuesday last, major Jesse Franklin, of Surry county, was elected by the legislature, governor of this state for the ensuing year. He yesterday took the usual oaths of office, in presence of the two houses.
71. Sobel 1978, pp. 1122–1123.
72. "Gabriel Holmes". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
73. "General Assembly". Weekly Raleigh Register. December 14, 1821. p. 2. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
74. Sobel 1978, p. 1123.
75. "Hutchins Gordon Burton". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
76. "none". North-Carolina Free Press. December 17, 1824. p. 3. Retrieved May 27, 2023. On Tuesday last, Hutchins G. Burton, Esq. qualified as Governor of this State...
77. Sobel 1978, p. 1124.
78. "James Iredell". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
79. "Legislative". The North-Carolina Star. December 13, 1827. p. 3. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
80. Sobel 1978, pp. 1124–1125.
81. "John Owen". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
82. "Legislative". The Raleigh Register. December 16, 1828. p. 3. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
83. "State Legislature". Weekly Raleigh Register. December 16, 1830. p. 3. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
84. Sobel 1978, pp. 1125–1126.
85. "Montfort Stokes". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
86. "Legislature of North Carolina". The North-Carolina Star. December 23, 1830. p. 2. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
87. "Governor's Message". North-Carolina Free Press. December 4, 1832. p. 1. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
88. North Carolina: A Guide to the Old North State. US History Publishers. 1939. p. 409. ISBN 978-1-60354-032-2.
89. Sobel 1978, pp. 1126–1127.
90. "David Lowry Swain". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
91. "General Assembly". North-Carolina Free Press. December 18, 1832. p. 2. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
92. Sobel 1978, p. 1128.
93. "Richard Dobbs Spaight Jr". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
94. "Inaugural Address of Governor Spaight". The Weekly Standard. December 15, 1835. p. 2. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
95. Sobel 1978, pp. 1128–1129.
96. "Edward Bishop Dudley". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
97. "Inauguration". Weekly Raleigh Register. January 3, 1837. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
98. "1776 N.C. Const. art. II, as amended in 1835". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
99. Sobel 1978, p. 1130.
100. "John Motley Morehead". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
101. "Inauguration of Governor". The Raleigh Register. January 5, 1841. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
102. Sobel 1978, pp. 1131–1132.
103. "William Alexander Graham". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
104. "Gov. Graham's Inauguration". The Raleigh Register. January 3, 1845. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
105. Sobel 1978, pp. 1132–1133.
106. "Charles Manly". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
107. "Inauguration of Governor". The North-Carolinian. January 6, 1849. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
108. Sobel 1978, p. 1133.
109. "David Settle Reid". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
110. "State Legislature". The Spirit of the Age. January 3, 1851. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
111. "Legislature in North Carolina". Semi-Weekly Standard. December 9, 1854. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
112. Sobel 1978, p. 1134.
113. "Warren Winslow". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
114. "The Legislature". Semi-Weekly Standard. December 9, 1854. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
115. Sobel 1978, pp. 1134–1135.
116. "Thomas Bragg". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
117. "Legislature". Weekly Raleigh Register. January 3, 1855. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
118. Sobel 1978, pp. 1135–1136.
119. "John Willis Ellis". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
120. "Inauguration of Gov. Ellis". Weekly Raleigh Register. January 5, 1859. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
121. Sobel 1978, p. 1136.
122. "Henry Toole Clark". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
123. "none". The Daily Journal. July 11, 1861. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2023. The duties of the office, as already stated, devolve upon Henry T. Clark, Esq...
124. Brown, Norman D. (1994). "Stanly, Edward". NCpedia. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
125. Sobel 1978, pp. 1137–1138.
126. "Zebulon Baird Vance". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
127. "Inauguration of Gov. Vance". Semi-Weekly Standard. September 10, 1862. p. 1. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
128. Barrett, John G. (1996). "Vance, Zebulon Baird". NCpedia. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
129. McKinney, Gordon B. (1998). "Zebulon Vance and His Reconstruction of the Civil War in North Carolina". The North Carolina Historical Review. 75 (1): 69–85. ISSN 0029-2494.
130. Sobel 1978, pp. 1138–1139.
131. "William Woods Holden". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
132. "President Johnson's Proclamation Appointing a Provisional Governor for North Carolina". The Daily Record. June 7, 1865. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
133. Sobel 1978, pp. 1139–1140.
134. "Jonathan Worth". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
135. "Inauguration of the Governor of North Carolina". The Daily Journal. December 16, 1865. p. 1. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
136. "Meeting of the Legislature". The Daily Standard. July 2, 1868. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
137. Sobel 1978, pp. 1140–1141.
138. "Tod Robinson Caldwell". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
139. Brisson, Jim D. (2011). ""Civil Government Was Crumbling Around Me": The Kirk-Holden War of 1870". The North Carolina Historical Review. 88 (2): 123–163. ISSN 0029-2494.
140. "Legislature of North Carolina". The Daily Journal. December 21, 1870. p. 2. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
141. "Impeachment of Holden". The Wilmington Morning Star. March 23, 1871. p. 4. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
142. Sobel 1978, p. 1141.
143. "Curtis Hooks Brogden". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
144. "Death of Gov. Caldwell". The Charlotte Democrat. July 13, 1874. p. 3. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
145. "The Inauguration". Carolina Watchman. January 4, 1877. p. 2. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
146. "Gov. Vance Resigns". The Torchlight. February 4, 1879. p. 2. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
147. Sobel 1978, pp. 1142–1143.
148. "Thomas Jordan Jarvis". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
149. "From the Capital". The Charlotte Observer. February 6, 1879. p. 2. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
150. "1868 N.C. Const. art. III, § 2". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
151. Sobel 1978, p. 1143.
152. Sobel 1978, pp. 1143–1144.
153. "Alfred Moore Scales". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
154. "The Inauguration". The Wilmington Morning Star. January 22, 1885. p. 4. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
155. Sobel 1978, pp. 1144–1145.
156. "Daniel Gould Fowle". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
157. "Gov. Daniel G. Fowle". Asheville Citizen-Times. January 18, 1889. p. 1. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
158. Sobel 1978, pp. 1145–1146.
159. "Thomas Michael Holt". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
160. "Governor Fowle Dead". Asheville Citizen-Times. April 8, 1891. p. 1. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
161. Sobel 1978, pp. 1146–1147.
162. "Elias Carr". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
163. "Governor Elias Carr". The State Chronicle. January 19, 1893. p. 1. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
164. Sobel 1978, pp. 1147–1148.
165. "Daniel Lindsay Russell". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
166. "Russell Inaugurated". The Wilmington Morning Star. January 13, 1897. p. 4. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
167. Sobel 1978, pp. 1148–1149.
168. "Charles Brantley Aycock". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
169. "Inauguration of Aycock". The Charlotte Observer. January 16, 1901. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
170. Sobel 1978, pp. 1149–1150.
171. "Robert Broadnax Glenn". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
172. "New Governor Inaugurated". The Charlotte Observer. January 12, 1905. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
173. Sobel 1978, pp. 1150–1151.
174. "William Walton Kitchin". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
175. "New Officers Take Oath". The Charlotte Observer. January 13, 1909. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
176. Sobel 1978, pp. 1151–1152.
177. "Locke Craig". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
178. "Craig Is Now Our Governor". The Herald-Sun. January 16, 1913. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
179. Sobel 1978, p. 1152.
180. "Thomas Walter Bickett". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
181. "Thomas Walker Bickett Assumes Governorship". The News and Observer. January 12, 1917. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
182. Sobel 1978, pp. 1153–1154.
183. "Cameron A. Morrison". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
184. Powell, R. E. (January 13, 1921). "Ovation to Governor Morrison a Reminder of Vance's Inauguration". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
185. Sobel 1978, pp. 1154–1155.
186. "Angus Wilton Mclean". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
187. "M'Lean Inaugurated Governor". The News and Observer. January 15, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
188. Sobel 1978, pp. 1155–1156.
189. "Oliver Max Gardner". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
190. Wade, Jake (January 12, 1929). "Thousands Cheer Gardner at Inaugural". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
191. Sobel 1978, pp. 1156–1157.
192. "John Christopher Blucher Ehringhaus". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
193. Parker, Charles J. (January 6, 1933). "New Governor Takes Office". The News and Observer. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
194. Sobel 1978, pp. 1157–1158.
195. "Clyde Roark Hoey". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
196. "Hoey Outlines Program in Inaugural Address". The Charlotte Observer. Associated Press. January 8, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
197. Sobel 1978, pp. 1158–1159.
198. "Joseph Melville Broughton". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
199. Wohl, Stanley (January 10, 1941). "Governor Inducted in Solemn Ceremony". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
200. Sobel 1978, p. 1159.
201. "Robert Gregg Cherry". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
202. Newsom, Francis (January 5, 1945). "Gregg Cherry Inaugurated As State's New Governor". The News and Observer. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
203. Sobel 1978, pp. 1160–1161.
204. "William Kerr Scott". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
205. M'Caughelty, Tom (January 7, 1949). "'Go Forward Program' Offered by Kerr Scott; Governor's Oath Taken Before Joint Session". The Herald-Sun. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
206. Sobel 1978, pp. 1161–1162.
207. "William Bradley Umstead". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
208. Howland, Ralph (January 9, 1953). "Umstead Charts Far-Reaching Program After Taking Office". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
209. Sobel 1978, pp. 1162–1163.
210. "Luther Hartwell Hodges". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
211. "State Leaders Are Confronted With Problem". The Herald-Sun. Associated Press. November 8, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
212. Sobel 1978, pp. 1163–1164.
213. "James Terry Sanford". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
214. Jenkins, Jay (January 6, 1961). "Sanford Takes N.C. Helm From Hodges". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
215. "1868 N.C. Const. art. III, § 2, as amended in 1962". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
216. Sobel 1978, p. 1165.
217. "Dan Killian Moore". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
218. Jenkins, Jay (January 9, 1965). "Moore Takes Oath As N.C.'s Governor". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
219. Sobel 1978, p. 1166.
220. "Robert Walter Scott". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
221. Clay, Russell (January 4, 1969). "Governor Scott Promises to Steer Progressive Path". The News and Observer. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
222. "1971 N.C. Const. art. III, § 2, original". www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
223. Sobel 1978, p. 1167.
224. "James E. Holshouser". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
225. Tarleton, Larry (January 6, 1973). "Holshouser Sworn In As Governor". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
226. Sobel 1978, p. 1168.
227. "James B. Hunt". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
228. Covington, Howard (January 9, 1977). "Hunt Takes Office As Governor". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
229. "N.C. Const. art. III, § 2". Retrieved December 19, 2023.
230. "James G Martin". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
231. Alston, Chuck; Pittman, Tim (January 6, 1985). "Jim Martin Takes Oath As Governor". News and Record. p. A1. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
232. Christensen, Rob (January 10, 1993). "Hunt's Third Oath". The News and Observer. p. 1A. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
233. "Michael F. Easley". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
234. Gardner, Amy (January 7, 2001). "'One State, One People' – Easley Emphasizes Opportunities for All of N.C." The News and Observer. p. 1A. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
235. "Bev Perdue". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
236. Johnson, Mark; Niolet, Benjamin (January 11, 2009). "'New Beginning' - First Female Governor Takes Office Vowing to 'Think Big'". The News and Observer. p. 1A. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
237. "Pat McCrory". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
238. "McCrory Sworn In As North Carolina's 74th Governor". January 5, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
239. "Roy Cooper". National Governors Association. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
240. "Roy Cooper Sworn In As North Carolina Governor". January 1, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2023.

External links

• Office of the Governor of North Carolina