Alexander Martin was a merchant, and later an attorney, all while serving as a a Colonel in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. His accolades and intellect led him to become a North Carolinian politician and delegate to the Federal Constitutional Convention in addition to being a direct participant in the Regulator Rebellion and the North Carolina ratification debates. He served numerous roles in public office and became a predominant figure in North Carolina’s political landscape, serving not only as a delegate but also as a Governor and Senator for the State.
Early Life
Martin was born in Hunterdon County New Jersey on October 17, 1740, to Irish immigrants James H. Martin and Jane Hunter. During his youth, he obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Princeton University (then called the College of New Jersey), making him among the most educated delegates of the Constitutional Convention. After graduating from Princeton, Martin moved to Salisbury, North Carolina where he initially worked as a merchant before becoming a self-taught attorney. He was later admitted to the North Carolina bar and began to practice. Early into his legal career, on September 24, 1770, the Regulator Rebellion began while Martin was serving as a justice of the peace where he and several of his fellow attorneys were viciously beaten by a group of “Regulators” that took over and occupied Hillsboro Court. However, undeterred, Martin continued his efforts and became a judge of the Salisbury district in 1774.
When the American Revolution began, Martin quickly answered the call to action and served as a Colonel in Richard Caswell’s militia in North Carolina before joining George Washington’s army. In October 1777, Martin participated in the Battle of Germantown, where weather conditions caused Martin and the soldiers under his command to mistake Continental soldiers for British troops, resulting in his regiment firing and charging upon their own men. Martin was court-martialed for cowardice due to his actions as commander, however he was acquitted and resigned from service citing stress and poor health.
Public Office
In 1778, Martin was elected to the North Carolina Senate, serving as the president of the Senate’s Board of War and in 1781 became acting governor of North Carolina when the sitting governor, Thomas Burke, was kidnapped by Tories. In 1782, the General Assembly elected Martin Governor of North Carolina where he battled dueling ideologies surrounding how to treat Troy and Loyalist property following the end of the Revolutionary War. Martin opposed the popular opinion of most North Carolina Revolutionaries to confiscate and redistribute this property and instead struck a balance returning the land to all except for North Carolina’s most notorious Tories. After Martin’s gubernatorial term ended in 1785, he returned to the General Assembly, where he became the Senate speaker.
Constitutional Convention
In 1787, Martin was selected by the General Assembly as one of North Carolina’s delegates to the Federal Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Although Martin arrived before the convention began and remained until late August, he played a limited role in the proceedings. He was not appointed to any major committees and made only a few minor motions. He left before the convention concluded and therefore did not sign the final Constitution. William Pierce, a fellow delegate, described Martin as “a man of sense, and undoubtedly a good politician, but he is not formed to shine in public debate, being no speaker.”
Role in New Government
In 1788, Martin sought election to the Hillsborough Convention, where North Carolina would debate the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. A strong Federalist, Martin faced significant opposition in Guilford County, a predominantly Anti-Federalist region. He lost the election to David Caldwell, a Presbyterian minister and prominent Anti-Federalist. Martin was the only delegate to the Federal Convention who ran for a state ratifying convention and failed to win a seat. Despite this setback, Martin’s popularity in the General Assembly remained intact, being elected again as the Governor of North Carolina in 1789 where he served until 1792 when he reached the term limit. During his second term, the permanent capital of North Carolina, Raleigh, was established in Wake County. He also played a key role in founding the University of North Carolina in 1789. Following his governorship, Martin was elected to the U.S. Senate. Though a Federalist by affiliation, his voting record in the 1790s demonstrated political independence, often breaking from party lines throughout his later years. In 1799, having lost the support of North Carolina Federalists, Martin was voted out of the Senate. He returned to the North Carolina General Assembly in 1804, and in 1805 again became Speaker of the North Carolina Senate.
Later Life
When Martin eventually retired from politics, he pursued educational endeavors and became a reputable trustee for the University of North Carolina. He was often published in the “North Carolina University Magazine” by contributing poetical tributes to General Francis Nash and Governor Richard Caswell while advising the University within his capacity. However, shortly thereafter, he died on November 10, 1807, and was laid to rest at his Danbury estate in Stokes County, North Carolina.
