Daniel Gould Fowle
Encyclopedia
Daniel Gould Fowle was the 46th Governor
of the U.S. state
of North Carolina
from 1889 until his death in 1891. He had served as a state superior court
judge from 1865 to 1867. http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/manual/manual.html#p449
According to popular legend, the ghost
of Gov. Fowle has haunted the North Carolina Executive Mansion
from time to time. Fowle was the first governor to live in the residence, and he also died within it. http://www.prairieghosts.com/raleigh.html http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NRSTAFF/71212048/-1/NEWS=
to Samuel and Martha March Fowle. Samuel Fowle had moved to North Carolina from Massachusetts
in 1815 and was a wealthy merchant. Daniel Fowle attended Bingham Academy, where he finished first in his class, and Princeton University
. Upon graduating from Princeton in 1851 he studied law and began a practice in Raleigh, North Carolina
.
. He was soon appointed major
in the commissary branch. He resigned that post and helped to raise the 31st North Carolina Infantry regiment. On September 9, 1861, Fowle was appointed lieutenant colonel
of the regiment. In February 1862, Fowle and the 31st NC were captured on Roanoke Island. He was paroled two weeks later. In September 1862, he was defeated in the election for colonel
of the regiment and left the Confederate States Army
. In October, he was elected to the state legislature representing Wake County, North Carolina
. In March 1863, Governor Zebulon B. Vance appointed Fowle adjutant general
of North Carolina with the rank of major general
. Fowle resigned the post in the fall of 1863 after a disagreement with Vance. Fowle was reelected to the legislature in 1864.
in Raleigh.
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
from 1889 until his death in 1891. He had served as a state superior court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
judge from 1865 to 1867. http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/manual/manual.html#p449
According to popular legend, the ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
of Gov. Fowle has haunted the North Carolina Executive Mansion
North Carolina Executive Mansion
The North Carolina Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of North Carolina and his or her family. Building began in the year 1883 and it was designed by noted architects Samuel Sloan and A.G. Bauer. The first occupants, Governor Daniel G. Fowle and his family, moved into the...
from time to time. Fowle was the first governor to live in the residence, and he also died within it. http://www.prairieghosts.com/raleigh.html http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NRSTAFF/71212048/-1/NEWS=
Early life
Fowle was born in Washington, North CarolinaWashington, North Carolina
Washington is a city in Beaufort County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 9,744 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beaufort County. The closest major city is Greenville, approximately 20 miles to the west....
to Samuel and Martha March Fowle. Samuel Fowle had moved to North Carolina from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1815 and was a wealthy merchant. Daniel Fowle attended Bingham Academy, where he finished first in his class, and Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. Upon graduating from Princeton in 1851 he studied law and began a practice in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
.
Civil War
Fowle was opposed to secession, but he still volunteered as a private in the North Carolina MilitiaMilitia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. He was soon appointed major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in the commissary branch. He resigned that post and helped to raise the 31st North Carolina Infantry regiment. On September 9, 1861, Fowle was appointed lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of major and just below the rank of colonel. It is equivalent to the naval rank of commander in the other uniformed services.The pay...
of the regiment. In February 1862, Fowle and the 31st NC were captured on Roanoke Island. He was paroled two weeks later. In September 1862, he was defeated in the election for colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of the regiment and left the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
. In October, he was elected to the state legislature representing Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...
. In March 1863, Governor Zebulon B. Vance appointed Fowle adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of North Carolina with the rank of major general
Major general (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force, major general is a two-star general-officer rank, with the pay grade of O-8. Major general ranks above brigadier general and below lieutenant general...
. Fowle resigned the post in the fall of 1863 after a disagreement with Vance. Fowle was reelected to the legislature in 1864.
Post-War
Fowle returned to his law practice and made a name for himself in the state Democratic Party. In 1868, he was elected as the state chairman of the Democratic Party. In 1880 he was defeated in the gubernatorial election and in 1884 he lost a race for Congress.Governor
Fowle was nominated by the "liberal" faction of the Democratic Party in 1888 and he won the general election. He created a state railroad commission to protect farmers and advocated for education for women. He died while in office and is buried in Oakwood CemeteryHistoric Oakwood Cemetery
Historic Oakwood Cemetery was founded in 1869 in Raleigh, North Carolina near the North Carolina State Capitol in Historic Oakwood. Historic Oakwood Cemetery contains two special areas within its , the Confederate Cemetery, located on the original two and one-half acres , and the Hebrew Cemetery,...
in Raleigh.