History of Sparta, (Alleghany County) North Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

A Biography of William Hawkins

William Hawkins, governor of North Carolina, was born in Warren county, N.C., in 1770; son of Col. John Hawkins; and grandson of Col. Philemon Hawkins, who was born in Gloucester county, Va., Sept. 28, 1717, settled in Bute (afterward Warren) county, N.C., was an aide to General Tryon in the battle of Alamance, and with 1000 men vanquished 2000 "Regulators," and the same year served as colonel in the American army in the Revolutionary war and was a member of the convention that ratified the Federal constitution and of the convention that framed a state constitution. William was educated in the log schoolhouse of the time. He was elected a member of the house of commons of the state in 1804, was speaker, 1805, governor of the state, 1811-14, and an active supporter of the war of 1812, himself taking the field in the defence of Beaufort and Newbern. He was a trustee of the University of North Carolina, 1803-19. He died at Sparta, N.C., May 17, 1819.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor