William Miller (c. 1783 – September 10, 1825) was the 18th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1814 to 1817.
William Miller | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 18th Governor of North Carolina | |
| In office November 29, 1814 – December 6, 1817 | |
| Preceded by | William Hawkins |
| Succeeded by | John Branch |
| Attorney General of North Carolina | |
| In office 1810 | |
| Preceded by | Oliver Fitts |
| Succeeded by | Hutchins Gordon Burton |
| Member of the North Carolina House of Commons | |
| In office 1804–1810 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1783 Warren County, North Carolina, US |
| Died | (aged 41–42) Key West, Florida, US |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
Born in Warren County, North Carolina, William Miller was orphaned at the age of 9 and inherited a substantial plantation. He briefly attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1802, but did not complete a degree. He began practicing law in 1805 and was named North Carolina Attorney General in 1810. That same year, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Commons, where he served until 1814, for two years as Speaker of the House (1812–1814).
In November 1814, Miller was elected Governor of North Carolina by the General Assembly, at the close of the War of 1812, which he supported. During his term, Miller laid the groundwork for the expansion of the state's educational system, and he served on the University of North Carolina Board of Trustees until his death.
After serving the maximum number of three one-year terms as governor, Miller left office in 1817. He returned to the North Carolina Senate in 1821, but lost a re-election bid the following year.
U.S. President John Quincy Adams appointed Miller as an envoy to Guatemala in 1825;[1] Miller died after three days illness in Key West, Florida en route to his post.[2][3]
Sources
edit- ^ "Appointments by the President and Senate". Aurora and Franklin Gazettez. Vol. XV, no. 2162. Number 6 Bank Alley, Philadelphia. March 14, 1825. p. 2.
William Miller, of North Carolina, to be Charge des Affaires to the Central Republic of America, Guatemala
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "News item". Raleigh Register and North-Carolina State Gazette. Vol. XXIV, no. 1359. October 21, 1825. p. 3.
By an arrival at Norfolk, direct from Key West, intelligence is received of the death of William Miller, Esq'r. Charge des Affaires to Guatemala, and formerly Governor of this State, after three days illness. It would appear, that he had not reached Guatemala, but was still waiting at Key West for a vessel. This is the second appointment on that embassy, and in both instances the gentlemen selected were from this State, but neither of them ever reached their destined post.
- ^ Dictionary of North Carolina Biography
- Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978, Robert Sobel and John Raimo, eds. Westport, CT: Meckler Books, 1978. (ISBN 0-930466-00-4)