William Hawkins
Encyclopedia
William Hawkins was the 17th Governor
of the U.S. state
of North Carolina
from 1811 to 1814.
Hawkins was born in his family home, called Pleasant Hill, in what is today Vance County, North Carolina
. His father, Philemon Hawkins III, was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly
. He studied law in North Carolina under Judge John Williams
and in Philadelphia, and worked as an Indian agent
under his uncle, Benjamin Hawkins
, in Georgia
before returning to North Carolina to practice law. In 1801, he was sent by Gov. James Turner
to settle a dispute with the Tuscarora
Indians.
In 1804, Hawkins was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons from Warren County
he served a single term. In 1809, he was elected as a representative from Granville County
; he served until 1811, and from 1810 to 1811, was Speaker of the House
.
In December 1811, Hawkins was elected Governor of North Carolina
by the General Assembly. He served the constitutional limit of three terms which coincided with the War of 1812
; during the war, he supported the military efforts of the federal government and assisted in raising a volunteer militia of 7,000 troops.
Hawkins retired from politics after the end of his term as governor, except for one term in the House of Commons in 1817. He died in 1819 and is buried in Sparta, Georgia
.
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 1811 to 1814.
Hawkins was born in his family home, called Pleasant Hill, in what is today Vance County, North Carolina
Vance County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,954 people, 16,199 households, and 11,647 families residing in the county. The population density was 169 people per square mile . There were 18,196 housing units at an average density of 72 per square mile...
. His father, Philemon Hawkins III, was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly
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...
. He studied law in North Carolina under Judge John Williams
John Williams (delegate)
John Williams was a signer of the United States' Articles of Confederation. He was one of the founders of the University of North Carolina. During the American Revolutionary War, Williams was a colonel in the North Carolina militia. In 1777 and 1778, he was a member of the North Carolina House of...
and in Philadelphia, and worked as an Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
under his uncle, Benjamin Hawkins
Benjamin Hawkins
Benjamin Hawkins was an American planter, statesman, and United States Indian agent . He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a United States Senator from North Carolina, having grown up among the planter elite...
, in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
before returning to North Carolina to practice law. In 1801, he was sent by Gov. James Turner
James Turner
James Turner was the 12th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1802 to 1805. He later served as a U.S. senator between 1805 and 1816....
to settle a dispute with the Tuscarora
Tuscarora (tribe)
The Tuscarora are a Native American people of the Iroquoian-language family, with members in New York, Canada, and North Carolina...
Indians.
In 1804, Hawkins was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons from Warren County
Warren County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,972 people, 7,708 households, and 5,449 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 10,548 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
he served a single term. In 1809, he was elected as a representative from Granville County
Granville County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 59,916 people in 20,628 households residing in the county. The population density was 111.6 people per square mile . There were 22,827 housing units at an average density of 42.5 per square mile...
; he served until 1811, and from 1810 to 1811, was Speaker of the House
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
.
In December 1811, Hawkins was elected 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:...
by the General Assembly. He served the constitutional limit of three terms which coincided with the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
; during the war, he supported the military efforts of the federal government and assisted in raising a volunteer militia of 7,000 troops.
Hawkins retired from politics after the end of his term as governor, except for one term in the House of Commons in 1817. He died in 1819 and is buried in Sparta, Georgia
Sparta, Georgia
Sparta is a country town in Hancock County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,265 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Hancock County...
.