John Motley Morehead

John Motley Morehead (* July 4, 1796 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia; † August 27, 1866 in Greensboro, North Carolina ) was an American politician and 29th Governor of North Carolina.

Early years and political rise

At the age of two years came the young John Morehead with his family in Rockingham County, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1817. He then studied law and settled in Wentworth as a lawyer down. His political career began in 1821 with his election to the House of Representatives in his home state, where he remained until 1822 initially. From 1826 to 1828 he was again a member of this body. In 1835 he was member of a commission that revised the Constitution of North Carolina. For the upcoming 1840 gubernatorial election, he was nominated by the Whig party for their top candidate.

Governor of North Carolina

Morehead won the elections and was thus in a US-wide trend which saw the Whig party in the ascendant. In the same year, his party won the U.S. presidential election with William H. Harrison. In 1842, he was confirmed in his office. His term began on January 1, 1841 and ended four years later on January 1, 1845. During this time he was a strong supporter of the development of infrastructure in his country. Thus, the further expansion of the railway network was advanced. Inland navigation has been promoted through the development of the waterways and ports. In addition, a disabled Institute was founded in North Carolina. At the same time, the governor also promoted nor the formation of policy. For his services to the above-mentioned expansion of the railroads, he was appointed President of the North Carolina Railroad Company.

More career

Even after leaving the office of Governor Morehead remained politically active. In 1848 he was chairman of the National Party Convention of the Whigs, on the Zachary Taylor was determined to be their presidential candidate. From 1858 to 1859 he was again in the House of Representatives from North Carolina, and from 1860 to 1861 he was in the Senate of that State. With concern he observed the development of the national antagonism between the North and the South. In 1861 he was one of a Commission which wanted to prevent a peace conference in the impending civil war in the last minute. After the failure of this attempt and the outlet of North Carolina from the Union Morehead was from 1861 to 1862 in the Provisional Congress of the Confederacy. After he retired from politics. He lived to see the Civil War and the end, but eventually died in 1866. He was married to Ann Eliza Lindsay, with whom he had eight children. A daughter, Mary Corinna Morehead, was married to William Waightstill Avery ( 1816-1864 ). John Moehead was the brother of Congressman James Morehead.