David Settle Reid
Encyclopedia
David Settle Reid was the 32nd Governor
of the U.S. state
of North Carolina
from 1851 to 1854 and a U.S. Senator from December 1854 to March 1859. His uncle was Congressman Thomas Settle
, and his brother was Hugh Kearns Reid.
He was born in what would later be Reidsville, North Carolina
, an unincorporated town named for his father, Reuben Reid. At age 16, David Reid became the first postmaster for the town. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1833. From 1835 to 1842, Reid served in the North Carolina Senate
. He was a U.S. Representative
from 1843 to 1847. In 1848, Reid was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor, losing to Charles Manly
by only 854 votes. In 1850, Reid defeated Manly by 2,853 votes, returning the Democrats to the governor's office for the first time since 1836, when the state constitution changed so that the people, rather than the legislature, chose the Governor. In his campaigns, Reid promoted the now-obscure cause of "free suffrage," i.e. that there should not be different standards for who could vote for members of the North Carolina House of Commons and of the North Carolina Senate
.
In the Senate, Reid was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office. He sought but was denied a full term in the Senate when he lost a three-way internal party fight with Thomas Bragg
and William W. Holden in 1858. He returned to the practice of law and was a delegate to an 1861 peace convention to try to prevent the American Civil War
. Reid was a member of a state constitutional convention in 1875.
Reid died in Reidsville in 1891 and is buried in Greenview Cemetery in the same city.
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1851 to 1854 and a U.S. Senator from December 1854 to March 1859. His uncle was Congressman Thomas Settle
Thomas Settle (politician)
Thomas Settle was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina from 1817 to 1821.Settle was born near Reidsville, North Carolina, March 9, 1789; educated by private tutors; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1812 and commenced practice in Wentworth, North Carolina...
, and his brother was Hugh Kearns Reid.
He was born in what would later be Reidsville, North Carolina
Reidsville, North Carolina
Reidsville is a city located in Rockingham County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,485.Originally established in the early 19th century as an outpost and stop on the stage line that ran between Salisbury, NC and Danville, VA called Wrights Crossroads,...
, an unincorporated town named for his father, Reuben Reid. At age 16, David Reid became the first postmaster for the town. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1833. From 1835 to 1842, Reid served in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
. He was a U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1843 to 1847. In 1848, Reid was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor, losing to Charles Manly
Charles Manly
Charles Manly was the 31st Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1849 to 1851, and the last member of his party to hold the office. After one two-year term, Manly was defeated in the 1850 election by David S. Reid, whom Manly had defeated in 1848.He was the brother of Matthias Evans...
by only 854 votes. In 1850, Reid defeated Manly by 2,853 votes, returning the Democrats to the governor's office for the first time since 1836, when the state constitution changed so that the people, rather than the legislature, chose the Governor. In his campaigns, Reid promoted the now-obscure cause of "free suffrage," i.e. that there should not be different standards for who could vote for members of the North Carolina House of Commons and of the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
.
In the Senate, Reid was chairman of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office. He sought but was denied a full term in the Senate when he lost a three-way internal party fight with Thomas Bragg
Thomas Bragg
Thomas Bragg was a politician and lawyer who served as the 34th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1855 through 1859. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate States Cabinet. He was the older brother of General Braxton Bragg...
and William W. Holden in 1858. He returned to the practice of law and was a delegate to an 1861 peace convention to try to prevent the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Reid was a member of a state constitutional convention in 1875.
Reid died in Reidsville in 1891 and is buried in Greenview Cemetery in the same city.
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