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North Carolina's Governors
Benjamin Williams (1751-1814), who served as governor in nonconsecutive terms, may be best remembered today his association with what is known as the "House in the Horseshoe" (built ca. 1770). Born in Johnston County, Williams became active in public affairs and in the Patriot cause. Commissioned a lieutenant soon after hostilities began, he rose to the rank of colonel following the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Remaining active in state politics, he served in the state constitutional convention of 1788, and was appointed to the original board of trustees of the University of North Carolina in 1789. From 1794 to 1795 he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Returning to North Carolina, Williams resided in the fledgling city of Raleigh. It was there that he was living in November 1799, when elected to the governorship. Reelected in each of the next two years, he served the maximum three consecutive terms. In 1807 he was representing Moore County in the state Senate when elected to his fourth and final term as governor. A candidate for governor no fewer than six times between 1800 and 1809, Williams enjoyed a broad base of support. Although sometimes classified as an Anti-Federalist or Republican, Williams should be viewed instead as a marginal or restrained Federalist. His successive reelections resulted from the combined support of his fellow Federalists and that of Republicans. As chief executive, Williams provided encouragement to internal improvements and public education, but lacked the effective means of financing. Williams departed from the governorship in 1808, but not entirely from public life. During the following year he was again elected to the state Senate. Williams's last years were devoted almost entirely to his plantation, now open to the public as the House in the Horseshoe State Historic Site. He died there on July 20, 1814, and was buried in the family cemetery. In 1970 he was reinterred in the side yard of his residence.
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