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North Carolina's Governors
Tod Robinson Caldwell (1818-1874), the first lieutenant governor in North Carolina history, succeeded his predecessor William Woods Holden as Chief Executive when the latter was brought to trial on impeachment charges. Caldwell, born in Morganton, attended the Bingham Academy and the University of North Carolina. In 1841 Caldwell began a law practice in Morganton. Eager for the political arena, he sought and won election to the State House in 1842, beginning five legislative terms. Caldwell was an ardent nationalist and denounced talk of secession. He refused to abandon his Union loyalty after the state had joined the Confederacy. With the war's end, Caldwell served briefly as president of the Western North Carolina Railroad before reentering politics. He joined forces with Holden to form the Republican Party in the state. The state constitution of 1868 called for the creation of the position of lieutenant governor. Caldwell's Union allegiance and service to the Republican Party were rewarded with the candidacy for the lieutenant governorship on the ticket with Holden. On March 22, 1871, with the conviction and removal of Holden, Caldwell took over the executive duties. As governor, Caldwell called for a methodical resolution of the state debt; tried to pump new life into the school system; proposed new laws to restore order in the society, particularly in regard to the rights of black citizens; and asked for a vigorous prosecution of bond fraud leaders. A Conservative legislature, hostile to Republicans, nullified virtually all of his efforts except for prosecution of bond frauds. His efforts to reinvigorate the public school system met with opposition in the General Assembly and he demonstrated little interest in reopening the University. In the 1872 gubernatorial election Caldwell narrowly defeated Conservative candidate Augustus S. Merrimon. Two years later, while attending a meeting in Hillsborough, the Governor was stricken with a gall bladder attack and died the next day. Burial took place in Morganton.
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