William Sharpe (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Sharpe was a lawyer and politician from North Carolina
, and a delegate to the Continental Congress
.
Sharpe was born in Rock Church, Maryland, in 1742. He was the son of Thomas Sharpe, of Maryland. He pursued classical studies and law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
in 1763.
Sharpe placed the first bill before the legislature of North Carolina to propose a publicly supported university in the state. This bill failed, but was taken up at the next seating of the legislature and was promoted by one of the state's Revolutionary War leaders General William Richardson Davie. It subsequently passed, creating the University of North Carolina.
Sharpe was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1775. He was an aide to General Rutherford in the Indian campaign in 1776 and was one of four commissioners appointed by Governor Caswell
to form a treaty with the Indians in 1777. Sharpe served as a delegate to the North Carolina constitutional convention in Halifax
in 1776, and helped to frame the first constitution of the State. He was later appointed in 1779 as a delegate to the Continental Congress
, 1779-1781, and elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
in 1781 and 1782. Sharpe died near Statesville, North Carolina
in 1818 and is interred in Snow Creek Graveyard.
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...
, and a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
.
Sharpe was born in Rock Church, Maryland, in 1742. He was the son of Thomas Sharpe, of Maryland. He pursued classical studies and law. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
-Air:The county's primary commercial aviation airport is Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte.- Intercity rail :With twenty-five freight trains a day, Mecklenburg is a freight railroad transportation center, largely due to its place on the NS main line between Washington and Atlanta...
in 1763.
Sharpe placed the first bill before the legislature of North Carolina to propose a publicly supported university in the state. This bill failed, but was taken up at the next seating of the legislature and was promoted by one of the state's Revolutionary War leaders General William Richardson Davie. It subsequently passed, creating the University of North Carolina.
Sharpe was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1775. He was an aide to General Rutherford in the Indian campaign in 1776 and was one of four commissioners appointed by Governor Caswell
Richard Caswell
Richard Caswell was the first and fifth governor of the U.S. State of North Carolina, serving from 1776 to 1780 and from 1784 to 1787....
to form a treaty with the Indians in 1777. Sharpe served as a delegate to the North Carolina constitutional convention in Halifax
Halifax, North Carolina
Halifax is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 344 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Halifax County...
in 1776, and helped to frame the first constitution of the State. He was later appointed in 1779 as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
, 1779-1781, and elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
in 1781 and 1782. Sharpe died near Statesville, North Carolina
Statesville, North Carolina
Statesville is a city located in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States and was named an All-America City in 1997 and 2009. The population was 24,633 at the 2010 census...
in 1818 and is interred in Snow Creek Graveyard.