North Carolina Secretary of State
Encyclopedia
The North Carolina Secretary of State
is an elected official in the U.S.
state of North Carolina
, heading the Department of the Secretary of State, which oversees many of the economic and business-related operations of the state government. Unlike in many states, the Secretary of State does not oversee state elections.
The position of Secretary of State is, behind only the position of Governor, the oldest government office in the state of North Carolina
, dating back to 1665 as the record keeper for the Province of Carolina
. The position of North Carolina Secretary of State has, since American independence in 1776, historically had a very low rate of turnover. Only 8 individuals held the office during the first hundred years of statehood; William Hill served as secretary for 46 years continuously, from 1811 until his death in 1857. Remarkably, in the 20th century, Thad A. Eure
broke even this record, holding the post for 53 consecutive years, from 1936 to 1989.
From 1776 to 1868, the Secretary of State was elected by the state legislature
. Under the North Carolina Constitution
s of 1868 and 1971, the Secretary of State is elected every four years by a plurality of the popular vote.
Secretary of State (U.S. state government)
Secretary of State is an official in the state governments of 47 of the 50 states of the United States, as well as Puerto Rico and other U.S. possessions. In Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, this official is called the Secretary of the Commonwealth...
is an elected official in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state 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...
, heading the Department of the Secretary of State, which oversees many of the economic and business-related operations of the state government. Unlike in many states, the Secretary of State does not oversee state elections.
The position of Secretary of State is, behind only the position of Governor, the oldest government office in the state 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...
, dating back to 1665 as the record keeper for the Province of Carolina
Province of Carolina
The Province of Carolina, originally chartered in 1629, was an English and later British colony of North America. Because the original Heath charter was unrealized and was ruled invalid, a new charter was issued to a group of eight English noblemen, the Lords Proprietors, in 1663...
. The position of North Carolina Secretary of State has, since American independence in 1776, historically had a very low rate of turnover. Only 8 individuals held the office during the first hundred years of statehood; William Hill served as secretary for 46 years continuously, from 1811 until his death in 1857. Remarkably, in the 20th century, Thad A. Eure
Thad A. Eure
Thaddeus Armie Eure was a North Carolina political figure who holds the record for longest tenure as North Carolina Secretary of State ....
broke even this record, holding the post for 53 consecutive years, from 1936 to 1989.
From 1776 to 1868, the Secretary of State was elected by the state legislature
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
. Under the North Carolina Constitution
North Carolina Constitution
The Constitution of the State of North Carolina governs the structure and function of the state government of North Carolina, United States; it is the highest legal document for the state and subjugates North Carolina law...
s of 1868 and 1971, the Secretary of State is elected every four years by a plurality of the popular vote.
List of Secretaries of State
- James GlasgowJames GlasgowJames Glasgow served as the first North Carolina Secretary of State, from 1777 to 1798. He resigned in disgrace after a scandal known as the "Glasgow Land Fraud."The son of a Scottish minister, Glasgow was educated at William and Mary College...
, 1777-1798 - William WhiteWilliam White (Secretary of State)William White is legit:For other people of the same name, see William White.William White was the second North Carolina Secretary of State, serving from 1798 until 1811....
, 1798-1811 - William Hill, 1811-1857
- Rufus H. Page, 1857-1862
- John P.H. Russ, 1864-1865
- Charles R. ThomasCharles R. Thomas (1827-1891)Charles Randolph Thomas , father of Charles R. Thomas , was a U.S. Congressional Representative from North Carolina.Thomas was born in Beaufort, NC, February 7, 1827; attended a private school in Hillsboro, N.C., and was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1849; He...
, 1864-1865 - Robert W. Best, 1865-1868
- Henry J. Menninger, 1868-1873
- William H. Howerton, 1873-1877
- Joseph A. Engelhard, 1877-1879
- William L. Saunders, 1879-1891
- Octavius Coke, 1891-1895
- Charles M. Cooke, 1895-1897
- Cyrus ThompsonCyrus ThompsonCyrus Thompson was a politician and leader of the Populist Party in the U.S. state of North Carolina. He served as North Carolina Secretary of State for one term, from 1897 to 1901....
, 1897-1901 - John Bryan GrimesJohn Bryan GrimesJohn Bryan Grimes was a North Carolina Democratic politician and farmer who served as North Carolina Secretary of State from 1901 until his death in 1923....
, 1901-1923 - William N. Everett, 1923-1928
- James A. Hartness, 1928-1933
- Stacey W. Wade, 1933-1936
- Charles G. Powell, 1936
- Thad A. EureThad A. EureThaddeus Armie Eure was a North Carolina political figure who holds the record for longest tenure as North Carolina Secretary of State ....
, 1936-1989 - Rufus L. EdmistenRufus L. EdmistenRufus Leigh Edmisten is a former North Carolina Secretary of State, Attorney General, and candidate for Governor in 1984. He is currently a lawyer in private practice....
, 1989-1996 - Janice I. Faulkner, 1996
- Elaine F. Marshall, 1997-present