Nathaniel Alexander (1756 - 1808)

Born 5 Mar 1756 in Anson, North Carolina

Ancestors

Died 7 Mar 1808 at age 52 in Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, United States

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Preceded by 12th Governor James Turner

Nathaniel Alexander 13th Governor of North Carolina 1805—1807

Succeeded by 14th Governor Benjamin Williams

Biography

Nathaniel Alexander is Notable.

Nathaniel Alexander was born on March 5, 1756 in Anson County (present-day Mecklenburg County), Province of North Carolina. Nathaniel Alexander was the oldest of Moses and Sarah Alexander’s six children. Although little is known about his early life, Alexander studied medicine at the College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton University) where he graduated in 1776.^[1]

Surgeon Nathaniel Alexander served with North Carolina Line during the American Revolution.

Nathaniel Alexander is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: P-102385
Rank: Surgeon, North Carolina Line

Nathaniel Alexander became a surgeon in the North Carolina Continental Army in 1778. Although supplies were scant and there were many injuries, Alexander worked diligently to support his fellow countrymen during the war. After the Revolution, Nathaniel married Margaret Polk, the daughter of Colonel Thomas Polk of Charlotte. The couple never had children.

Due to the demand for medical care in the Carolinas, Alexander practiced medicine in Santee, South Carolina after the war.^[2] Alexander returned to Mecklenburg County several years later and continued his practice while helping pioneer the local Masonic lodge. In 1797 Alexander began his political career as a house representative in the North Carolina General Assembly. Aligning himself with the rising Jeffersonians, Alexander served as a senator in the N.C. Legislature in 1801 and had the opportunity to serve in Washington from 1803 to 1805 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Political experience helped shape Alexander into a popular candidate for North Carolina Governor, and he was elected to replace James Turner in November 1805. Alexander would serve as governor for two years until Federalist Benjamin Williams won the office in 1807.

Although Alexander was a Jeffersonian, he nevertheless managed to gain Federalist support while in office. Minerva, a Raleigh Federalist newspaper, conceded that Alexander was “an ornament to the predominant party,” and he was considered a “scholar and true patriot.” While governor of North Carolina, Alexander worked to settle a boundary dispute with Georgia while proposing liberal changes to education and internal improvements. Specifically, he worked toward the creation of better roads and inland navigation additions across the state. It is worthwhile to note that historians credit Alexander as one of the first politicians to understand the significance of education.

Alexander’s call for repeal of the Court Act of 1806 was the main reason he did not win reelection in 1807. The act was created to reform the state’s judiciary, and it allowed for individual superior courts in every county of the state. Alexander was concerned that the extension of the number of courts would place a burden on judges and jurors. Although the act received initial Democratic-Republican support, the mounting Federalist opposition was a reason Alexander called for repeal. Many of Alexander’s Republican supporters abandoned him at the polls, and Benjamin Williams won the governorship in 1807.

Alexander died in Salisbury, North Carolina on March 6, 1808, and he was buried in the cemetery of First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. Alexander’s house in Harrisburg sat on the site of what is now the present Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Sources

1. ↑ biography based on #NCpedia, #Wikipedia, #Tombstone, #C1790, #C1800
2. ↑ #C1790

• Find A Grave: Memorial #8064711
• Biography of Nathaniel Alexander on NCPedia
• Nathaniel Alexander on Wikipedia
• "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V121-18V : 13 March 2018), Nathaniel Alexander, 1809; citing Burke, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 1,928,394.
• "United States Census, 1800," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRW-99N : accessed 3 January 2019), Nathl Alexander, Salisbury, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 526, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 33; FHL microfilm 337,909.
• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-T1Q : accessed 3 January 2019), Nath Alexdr, St Georges, Charleston, South Carolina, United States; citing p. 617, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 11; FHL microfilm 568,151.

Acknowledgements:

• WikiTree profile Alexander-2820 created through the import of Alexander Family Tree.ged on Jul 16, 2012 by Rod Alexander. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Rod and others.
• Source: S-2126624214 Repository: #R-2145910970 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/4247297/family
• Repository: R-2145910970 Name: Ancestry.com Address: http://www.Ancestry.com Note: