Alexander Martin (1740-1807) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Governor Alexander Martin

Born 1740 in Lebanon, Hunterdon County, New Jersey

Ancestors

Son of Hugh Martin Sr. and Jane (Hunter) Martin

Brother of James Hugh Martin, Thomas Martin, Martha (Martin) Rogers, Samuel Martin, Robert Martin and Anna Jane (Martin) Henderson

Descendants

Father of Alexander Strong Martin

Died 2 Nov 1807 at about age 67 in Danbury Plantation, Rockingham County, North Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: US Southern Colonies Project WikiTree

[send private message] and Judy Cardwell

[send private message]

Profile last modified 12 Nov 2022 | Created 31 Jul 2014

This page has been accessed 3,410 times.

Alexander Martin resided in the Southern Colonies in North America before 1776.
Join: US Southern Colonies Project
Discuss: southern_colonies

Preceded by
3rd Governor
Thomas Burke

6th Governor
Samuel Johnston

Preceded by
Samuel Johnston

Alexander Martin
4th Governor
of North Carolina
1782—1784

7th Governor
1789—1792

US Senator (Class 2)
from North Carolina

1793—1799

Succeeded by
5th Governor
Richard Caswell

8th Governor
Richard Dobbs Spaight

Succeeded by
Jesse Franklin

1 Summary
2 Biography
3 Sources

Summary

Alexander Martin (1740 – November 10, 1807) was the fourth and seventh Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1782 to 1784 and from 1789 to 1792.^[1]

Biography

Alexander Martin is Notable.

Alexander Martin was born in Hunterdon County New Jersey in 1740. He was the son of Hugh Martin and Jane Hunter who were Scotch-Irish immigrants. Alexander attended the College of New Jersey which was later known as Princeton where he received his B.A. in 1756 and his M.A. in 1759. He first tutored and taught school in Cumberland Virginia before coming to to Salisbury, North Carolina about 1760. Alexander traveled back to New Jersey in 1761 when his father died and he was named executor of Hugh Martin’s estate. When back in North Carolina he started his career as a merchant but soon turned to public service as he became a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Kings Attorney. In 1770 he was one of several county officials attacked by the Regulators in Hillsboro and during the next year he was reproved by Royal Governor Josiah Martin for unauthorized negotiations with the Regulators near Salisbury. In 1773 Alexander obtained a tract of land along the Dan River which became his Danbury Plantation near where other members of his family were homesteading. In 1774 and 1775 he was Judge in the Salisbury District. Alexander represented Guilford County in the Provincial Congress and then represented North Carolina at the Constitutional Convention. During the Revolutionary War he became a Colonel in the 2nd North Carolina Regiment but resigned his commission in 1777. In 1778 he was elected to represent Guilford County in the State Senate. When North Carolina’s Governor was captured by the British in 1781, Alexander as Speaker of the Senate was sworn in as Acting Governor of North Carolina. After the War Alexander remained active in politics, serving as Speaker of the North Carolina State Senate and then as the fourth and seventh Governor of North Carolina. As Governor he advocated for the establishment of educational facilities, preparedness and leniency for former enemies. He went on to represent North Carolina as a Senator to the U.S. Congress from 1793-1799, then in his last years represented Rockingham County in State politics. As a supporter of education, he served seventeen years as a North Carolina University Trustee. Alexander never married but had a natural son, Alexander Strong Martin whom he always acknowledged during his lifetime as well as publicly stating his relationship in his Will . In 1807 Alexander passed away at home on his Danbury Plantation in Rockingham County, North Carolina. He was buried on the grounds of his Danbury Plantation.

Birth

Born: 1740 in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Son of Hugh Martin and Jane Hunter.

Residence

Residence: Hunterdon County New Jersey; Rowan County North Carolina; Hillsboro North Carolina; Guilford County North Carolina; New Bern North Carolina; Raleigh North Carolina, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Rockingham County North Carolina.

Occupation

Occupation: Merchant, Lawyer, Soldier, Politician.

Marriage

Unmarried. Although Alexander never married he had a biological son, Alexander Strong Martin, born 8 Jul 1787, to Elizabeth (Lewis) Strong.

Military

Colonel Alexander Martin served with 2nd North Carolina Regiment, Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Alexander Martin is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A201952.

On September 1, 1775, Alexander Martin was commissioned a Lieutenant Colonel under Col. Robert Howe in the 2nd NC Regiment (Provincial Troops). On November 28, 1775, this regiment was placed on the Continental Line. In December of 1775, Lt. Col. Alexander Martin led half of the 2nd NC Regiment into South Carolina to support the Patriot cause in the battle of Great Cane Break then in the famous Snow Campaign against SC Loyalists. On April 10, 1776, he was promoted to full Colonel over the 2nd NC Regiment. Col. Alexander Martin was accused of cowardice at the battle of Brandywine Creek, PA, (most historians incorrectly say the battle of Germantown, PA) but he was exonerated of these charges. However, he resigned his commission on November 22, 1777 and returned to civilian life in North Carolina.

Political Career

In 1773, Alexander Martin was first elected as one of two men to represent Guilford County in the House of Burgesses of the: - 25th General Assembly that met in 1773. - 26th General Assembly that met from 1773-1774

In 1775, Alexander Martin was first elected to represent Guilford County in the: -2nd Provincial Congress that met in April of 1775. - 3rd Provincial Congress that met in August of 1775

In 1778, Alexander Martin was elected to represent Guilford County in a special election to replace Ralph Gorrell (already held another office) in the NC Senate of the: - 2nd General Assembly that met in 1778. - 3rd General Assembly that met in 1779. - 4th General Assembly that met in 1780 - elected Speaker of the Senate. - 5th General Assembly that met in 178 - elected Speaker of the Senate. - 6th General Assembly that met in 1782 - elected Speaker of the Senate

In September 1781 Alexander Martin became Acting Governor of North Carolina when Governor Burke was captured and held as prisoner of war by the British until his escape and return in January of 1782.

On April 22, 1782, Alexander Martin was elected the fourth governor of North Carolina. He was re-elected twice and served until 1784.

In 1785, Alexander Martin was again elected to represent Guilford County in the NC Senate of the: - 10th General Assembly that met in 1785 - elected Speaker of the Senate. - 12th General Assembly that met in 1787 - elected Speaker of the Senate. - 13th General Assembly that met in 1788 - elected Speaker of the Senate

In 1789, Alexander Martin was once again elected by the General Assembly to be the next governor of North Carolina. He again served three terms until 1792.

In 1793, Alexander Martin was elected to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate, and he retained this office for one term, until 1799. As an Anti-Federalist member of Congress, he opposed the Jay Treaty but supported the Alien and Sedition Acts.

In 1804, Alexander Martin was elected to represent Rockingham County in the NC Senate of the: - 29th General Assembly that met in 1804. - 30th General Assembly that met in 1805 - elected Speaker of the Senate.