Jesse Franklin
Encyclopedia
Jesse Franklin was the Democratic-Republican U.S. senator
from the U.S. state
of North Carolina
between 1799 and 1805 and between 1807 and 1813. He later served as the 20th Governor of North Carolina
from 1820 to 1821.
Jesse Franklin was the brother of Meshack Franklin
, who also served in Congress. Jesse Franklin was born in Orange County, Virginia
on March 24, 1760. He was the son of Bernard and Mary Franklin, the third of seven sons. Franklin moved to North Carolina
with his father in 1774 and served as major during the Revolutionary War
. During the war he was captured by Tories, but escaped. Franklin was in the Battle of Kings Mountain
and served as Adjutant of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland
's battalion. (Cleveland was a relative of Franklin's.) He was also at the Battle of Guilford Court House
. He performed further service in partisan warfare against Tories in North Carolina, service that continued to the end of the war. In Greensboro there is a monument to Revolutionary War soldiers Joseph Winston
, Jesse Franklin and Richard Taliaferro, the gift of Governor Thomas M. Holt. He was a member of the state legislature in 1793-1794 and 1797-1798. He was elected to the Fourth Congress
and served from March 4, 1795 to March 4, 1797. Jesse Franklin was elected as a Democratic Republican
to the United States Senate
and served from March 4, 1799 to March 4, 1805. Franklin was put up by the Legislature for re-election in December, 1804, but Republicans at the time were divided in their support of him and Federalists did not think highly of him, and he was defeated. Franklin served as President pro tempore of the Senate
during the Eighth Congress
. Franklin served as a state senator in 1805-1806. In 1806 he was again elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1807 until March 4, 1813. During his second period as a Senator, Franklin was known as an advocate of Madison's
war measures, and as an opponent of monopolies and central banks. Franklin was appointed a commissioner to negotiate with the Chickasaw Indians
near the site of present-day Memphis
in 1817, an appointment he accepted at the request of General Andrew Jackson
. He was Governor of North Carolina
from 1820 to 1821. During his term as Governor, the Canova statue was placed at the state Capitol in a new addition containing a rotunda that was considered an appropriate area for displaying it. As Governor, Franklin was considered to be conscientious and practical. He advocated reform in the treatment of criminals, including abolition of ear cropping. Franklin died in Surry County, North Carolina
on August 31, 1823. He was interred at the old National Park at Guilford battleground, near Greensboro.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 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...
between 1799 and 1805 and between 1807 and 1813. He later served as the 20th Governor of North Carolina
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:...
from 1820 to 1821.
Jesse Franklin was the brother of Meshack Franklin
Meshack Franklin
Meshack Franklin was a Congressional Representative from North Carolina; born in Surry County, North Carolina, in 1772; Brother of Jesse Franklin...
, who also served in Congress. Jesse Franklin was born in Orange County, Virginia
Orange County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,881 people, 10,150 households, and 7,470 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 11,354 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
on March 24, 1760. He was the son of Bernard and Mary Franklin, the third of seven sons. Franklin moved to 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...
with his father in 1774 and served as major during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. During the war he was captured by Tories, but escaped. Franklin was in the Battle of Kings Mountain
Battle of Kings Mountain
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a decisive battle between the Patriot and Loyalist militias in the Southern campaign of the American Revolutionary War...
and served as Adjutant of Colonel Benjamin Cleveland
Benjamin Cleveland
Benjamin Cleveland was an American pioneer and soldier in North Carolina. He is best remembered for his service as a colonel in the North Carolina militia during the Revolutionary War, and in particular for his role in the American victory at the Battle of Kings Mountain in 1780.-Early...
's battalion. (Cleveland was a relative of Franklin's.) He was also at the Battle of Guilford Court House
Battle of Guilford Court House
The Battle of Guilford Court House was a battle fought on March 15, 1781 in Greensboro, the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, during the American Revolutionary War...
. He performed further service in partisan warfare against Tories in North Carolina, service that continued to the end of the war. In Greensboro there is a monument to Revolutionary War soldiers Joseph Winston
Joseph Winston
Col. Joseph Winston was an American pioneer, planter and Revolutionary War hero from North Carolina, and the first cousin of statesman and Virginia governor Patrick Henry...
, Jesse Franklin and Richard Taliaferro, the gift of Governor Thomas M. Holt. He was a member of the state legislature in 1793-1794 and 1797-1798. He was elected to the Fourth Congress
4th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President: John Adams * President pro tempore:** Henry Tazewell , first elected December 7, 1795** Samuel Livermore , first elected May 6, 1796** William Bingham , first elected February 16, 1797...
and served from March 4, 1795 to March 4, 1797. Jesse Franklin was elected as a Democratic Republican
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and served from March 4, 1799 to March 4, 1805. Franklin was put up by the Legislature for re-election in December, 1804, but Republicans at the time were divided in their support of him and Federalists did not think highly of him, and he was defeated. Franklin served as President pro tempore of the Senate
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body...
during the Eighth Congress
8th United States Congress
- Senate :* President: Aaron Burr * President pro tempore: John Brown , October 17, 1803 – February 26, 1804** Jesse Franklin , March 10, 1804 – November 4, 1804** Joseph Anderson , January 15, 1805 – December 1, 1805- House of Representatives :...
. Franklin served as a state senator in 1805-1806. In 1806 he was again elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1807 until March 4, 1813. During his second period as a Senator, Franklin was known as an advocate of Madison's
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
war measures, and as an opponent of monopolies and central banks. Franklin was appointed a commissioner to negotiate with the Chickasaw Indians
Chickasaw
The Chickasaw are Native American people originally from the region that would become the Southeastern United States...
near the site of present-day Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
in 1817, an appointment he accepted at the request of General Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
. He was Governor 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 1820 to 1821. During his term as Governor, the Canova statue was placed at the state Capitol in a new addition containing a rotunda that was considered an appropriate area for displaying it. As Governor, Franklin was considered to be conscientious and practical. He advocated reform in the treatment of criminals, including abolition of ear cropping. Franklin died in Surry County, North Carolina
Surry County, North Carolina
Surry County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 73,673. Its county seat is Dobson.- History :The county was formed in 1771 from Rowan County...
on August 31, 1823. He was interred at the old National Park at Guilford battleground, near Greensboro.