John Willis Ellis

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John Willis Ellis

John Willis Ellis (born November 23, 1820 in Rowan County , North Carolina , † July 7, 1861 in Raleigh , North Carolina) was an American politician and the 35th governor of the state of North Carolina.

Early years and political advancement

John Ellis attended Randolph-Macon College and then the University of North Carolina . There he graduated in 1841. After studying law and subsequent admission to the bar, he embarked on a career as a lawyer in Salisbury . His political career began in 1843 as a delegate at the Democratic State Party Congress . Between 1844 and 1849 he was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives . After that he was a judge in this state for ten years from 1848. His party nominated him as a candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election in 1858, which Ellis won with 52.7 percent of the vote against John Pool of the opposition party .

North Carolina Governor

Ellis took up his new office on January 1, 1859 and was confirmed in 1860. He campaigned for an improvement in the infrastructure and a reorganization of the National Guard. The dominant theme at that time, however, was the crisis between the northern and southern states and the resulting threat of war. Governor Ellis endorsed the South's position and firmly denied a request from President Abraham Lincoln asking for North Carolina military assistance to the Union. Ellis had his decision confirmed by his state's parliament. On May 20, 1861, the government and parliament of North Carolina decided to leave the Union. As expected, the state thus joined the confederation . Governor Ellis did not long survive this event. He died in office on July 7, 1861. Senate President Henry Toole Clark ended his current term. Ellis was married twice and had two children in total.

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