Abner Nash

Abner Nash (born August 8, 1740 in Prince Edward County , Colony of Virginia , † December 2, 1786 in New York City , NY ) was an American politician and second governor of North Carolina .

Early years and political advancement

Abner Nash grew up in the then British colony of Virginia and attended public schools there. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1761 his political career began in colonial Virginia in the House of Burgesses . He held his mandate until 1765. He then moved to North Carolina, which was then also a British colony, and settled in the city of New Bern. He represented his new hometown from 1774 to 1776 at the first congress of the colony striving for independence. In 1776 he was also a member of the constituent assembly of the newly formed country.

North Carolina career

In 1778 he became a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives . A year later he made the leap into the country's Senate and even became its president. When in 1780 Governor Richard Caswell was no longer allowed to run under a constitutional clause, Nash was elected by parliament as his successor. As governor, Nash was not very successful. His tenure was overshadowed by the events of the ongoing war for American independence. There were some bloody battles in North Carolina at that time. As in many of the other 13 former British colonies, the political situation was unclear. Loyalists fought patriots and regular military units on both sides fought fierce battles. In this situation there was also a political dispute between the governor and parliament. It was about detailed questions of warfare. Among other things, Parliament had appointed ex-Governor Caswell as Commander-in-Chief of the North Carolina Militia, although that would have been the governor's job. As a consequence of the differences with parliament, Nash resigned on June 26, 1781 from his office as governor.

Further career and death

After leaving office, Nash was himself elected to the North Carolina Parliament in 1782, 1784, and 1785. In between he was from 1782 to 1783 a member of the Continental Congress, the forerunner of the later US Congress. Abner Nash died in New York City in 1786. He was married twice. His son Frederick Nash (1781-1858) was also a lawyer and politician. Between 1852 and 1858 he was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina ( Chief Justice ).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Nash, Abner
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician, governor of North Carolina
DATE OF BIRTH	August 8, 1740
PLACE OF BIRTH	Prince Edward County , Virginia
DATE OF DEATH	December 2, 1786
Place of death	New York City , NY