THE STATE
GOVERNORS OF NORTH CAROLINA
- No. 38 — WILLIAM HAWKINS -
- By W. J. Sadler -
P
Hmvk
vernor oi
wa.- Wil-
' Warren
о
become < met r.x
■I* the ‘tat*- on Pc
Г.
1 SI 1. And
me-year term^
Hawkins was only
four yon r* of age
i me of hi* fiction
\\ illi.iin Hawkins had Ills hands full
during flic three years he served as
Governor of North Carolina. It was
during that period that the second
war occurred between this country
and Great Britain, lie appears to
have cooperated to the fullest ex¬
tent with the federal government,
serving as Governor for almost the
duration of the conflict.
xnitn s
ship. Ilo succeeded General Benja-
min Smith, wlm had occupied ’ho
office for one vear, from I '.ember
140. to December 7. 1811.
Little of importance apparently
transpired during Governor !
single term, with the exception
establishment of the State Bank of
North Carolina. This institution,
recommended by Smith, had been au¬
thorized by the legislature, and the
Stat" Tn
:»
urer was civen instructions
to invest $250.000 in stock of the bank.
It: home office was heated in Raleigh,
with branches in several other larger
towns of the state.
Plent
Governor, however
started exploiting
office for his first
of his election, war
for the second tittu
Had Hands Full
a p pencil
ihile Hawkins was
and the fireworks
n after he assumed
*rin. At the time
vitli Great Britain
seemingly was im¬
minent, titul officials of the United
State: government were hastening
preparation* for the expected conflict.
Hawkins, according to historians,
amply wn* qualified to be nt the helm
of the Mato government during the
perilous days of the war. lie received
word of the beginning of the actual
conflict on
Л
nuo 23. 1S12, a little long¬
er thnn six short months after he had
assumed the duties of the gubernatorial
The state had not boon a laggard in
preparing m aid the United States in
the event of another war. a regiment
of militia having been raised the pre¬
vious February. Its colonel was Wil¬
liam Polk of Raleigh, who had served
with distinction in the War of the
Revolution, and several other well-
known North Carolinians were named
as officer* to aid him in preparing hi*
men for their anticipated parts in the
forthcoming struggle.
The controversy with England which
led to the War of 1812 was said to
be due to the arrogance of the British
in many instances. One of the most
aggravating of the numerous reason*
for resentment which were held by the
Americans was the practice of Eng¬
lish ship-owners seizing sailors of this
country and forcing them to serve,
against their wills, on ships of the
country across the Atlantic.
Many Men Ready
Hawkins took a great deal of inter-
e-t in complying with requests of the
federnl government for men and sup¬
plies. Several additional regiments of
militia were recruited in this state,
and. during the latter part of 1812.
he reported that more than .’>1,000 m<*u
were under arms.
Despite his comparative youthfnl-
tie.ss, Hawkins was a man of foresight
and quick decision. A member of "a
family long useful mid honored,” he
.joined in with all the force and vigor
at hi* command to aid in a success¬
ful prosecution of the war. It is said
of him that "Tie was brave when brav¬
ery wa« needed, but the Small, sweet
courtesies of life’ shone brightly in his
daily intercourse.”
Historians relate that this state was
not so greatly ravaged by the horror.*
of war other than from an economic
standpoint. Because of n
blockade of North Carolina
ports by the British, prices
of many food commodities
and other necessities of life
rose alarmingly, bringing a
certain amount of hardship
to the less well-to-do of the
state.
Creek Indians, inflamed
by the propaganda of the
English, forgot the friend*
-hip and teachings of n great man who
had done so much for them, and inas-
saered many white* during 1S14. That
man was Colonel Benjamin Hawkins,
an uncle of Governor William Haw¬
kins. who had been government agent
for the Creeks since bis appointment
bv President George Washington in
1700.
Indians Subdued
Tb<- onslaught* of the Indians, how¬
ever. did not reach into this state.
Several regiments of North Carolina
troops, under the leadership of Colonel
Ломе
A. Pearson, were instrumental
in their ultimate defeat in a section
of Alabama. It was in this battle
that General Andrew .Tackson began
his rise to national prominence and
fame.
The war occupied the entire three
years of Hawkins* service ns Governor
with the exception of the first six
months of his initial administration.
Hostilities did not cea*e until some
time after LL« retirement on November
29, 1814, although a treaty of peace
was signed in Europe on December
21 of the previous year. Communi¬
cation facilities were *o slow in those
days that new* of this event did not
reach the Uniti-d States for some time,
resulting in many battle* and the need-
lc** loss of hundred* of lives.
The first state-maintained home for
Governors of the Commonwealth was
authorized while Hawkins was serv¬
ing hi* last term, but he did not re¬
main in office long enough to occupy it.
