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North Carolina's Governors
James Iredell Jr. (1788-1853) was born in Edenton to parents of the highest social and political standing. His father, James Iredell Sr., was a prominent Federalist leader and associate justice of the United States Supreme Court. His mother, the former Hannah Johnston, was the sister of Governor Samuel Johnston of Edenton and niece of royal governor Gabriel Johnston. Iredell received his early education at Edenton Academy and graduated in 1806 from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). During the War of 1812 he commanded a company of volunteers in the defense of Norfolk and in 1815 he was commissioned a brigadier general in the North Carolina militia. After service in the State House including a term as speaker, in 1827 he was elected governor by his fellow assemblymen. Less than a year later resigned to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Nathaniel Macon. Because of its brief duration, Iredell's governorship left only a shallow imprint on the state's history. Like his predecessors, he stressed the need for improved roads and waterways and for the encouragement of industry and agriculture. He expressed frustration, however, that so little had been accomplished in comparison with other states. By way of contrast, his address to the General Assembly contained only one reference to public education. The lack of emphasis stemmed from the state's poor financial condition and especially that of the Literary Fund. Following his single term in the United States Senate, Iredell returned to North Carolina and established a law practice in Raleigh. During the next quarter century, he served as a commissioner to revise the state's laws, reported cases for the North Carolina Supreme Court, conducted a law school, and published an authoritative three-volume digest of court cases in the state from 1778 to 1845. Iredell died in Edenton in 1853, and was buried in the Johnston family cemetery at "Hayes."
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