William Gaston
Encyclopedia
William J. Gaston was a jurist and United States Representative from North Carolina
. Gaston was born in New Bern, North Carolina
, the son of Dr. Alexander Gaston and Margaret (née Sharpe) Gaston. He entered Georgetown College
in Washington, D.C.
, at the age of thirteen, becoming its first student. Due to illness shortly thereafter, he also became its first dropout.
After Georgetown and some education in North Carolina, he graduated from Princeton University
in 1796, where he studied law. Gaston was admitted to the bar in 1798 and commenced practice in New Bern, North Carolina. He was a member of the State senate in 1800, served in the State House of Commons from 1807 to 1809, and as its speaker
in 1808. He was again a member of the State senate in 1812, 1818, and 1819, and was elected as a Federalist
to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817). While in Congress, he obtained a federal charter for Georgetown University.
Gaston was not a candidate for renomination to Congress in 1816. He again served in the State house of representatives in 1824, 1827, 1828, 1829, and 1831. Gaston was then appointed judge
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
in 1833, holding the position until his death. Interestingly, as a legislator, Gaston had introduced the bill that established the state Supreme Court as a distinct body in 1818. He was also a member of the State constitutional convention in 1835 and declined a nomination for election to the United States Senate
in 1840.
Gaston won elective office on several occasions, even though the Constitution of North Carolina before 1835 seemed to prohibit it, because Gaston was a Roman Catholic. He was largely responsible, as a member of the constitutional convention of 1835, for removing official discrimination against Catholics from North Carolina law.
Gaston died in Raleigh, North Carolina
on January 23, 1844 and was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern, N.C.
Gaston County, North Carolina
is named after him, as are Lake Gaston
, the city of Gastonia, North Carolina
, and Gaston Hall at Georgetown University.
Gaston is the author of the official state song of North Carolina, “The Old North State.”
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...
. Gaston was born in New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
, the son of Dr. Alexander Gaston and Margaret (née Sharpe) Gaston. He entered Georgetown College
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, at the age of thirteen, becoming its first student. Due to illness shortly thereafter, he also became its first dropout.
After Georgetown and some education in North Carolina, he graduated from 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....
in 1796, where he studied law. Gaston was admitted to the bar in 1798 and commenced practice in New Bern, North Carolina. He was a member of the State senate in 1800, served in the State House of Commons from 1807 to 1809, and as its speaker
Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives
The Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of one of the houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The Speaker is elected by the members of the house when they convene for their regular session in January of each odd-numbered year...
in 1808. He was again a member of the State senate in 1812, 1818, and 1819, and was elected as a Federalist
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817). While in Congress, he obtained a federal charter for Georgetown University.
Gaston was not a candidate for renomination to Congress in 1816. He again served in the State house of representatives in 1824, 1827, 1828, 1829, and 1831. Gaston was then appointed judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
North Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
in 1833, holding the position until his death. Interestingly, as a legislator, Gaston had introduced the bill that established the state Supreme Court as a distinct body in 1818. He was also a member of the State constitutional convention in 1835 and declined a nomination for election to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1840.
Gaston won elective office on several occasions, even though the Constitution of North Carolina before 1835 seemed to prohibit it, because Gaston was a Roman Catholic. He was largely responsible, as a member of the constitutional convention of 1835, for removing official discrimination against Catholics from North Carolina law.
Gaston died 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...
on January 23, 1844 and was interred in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New Bern, N.C.
Gaston County, North Carolina
Gaston County, North Carolina
Gaston County is a county located just west of Charlotte in the southern Piedmont in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third largest county, by population, in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, officially designated the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of...
is named after him, as are Lake Gaston
Lake Gaston
Lake Gaston is a hydroelectric reservoir in east United States of America. Part of the lake is in the North Carolina counties of Halifax, Northampton, and Warren. The part extending into Virginia lies in Brunswick and Mecklenburg counties...
, the city of Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina, United States. It is also the third largest suburb of the Charlotte Area, behind Concord and Rock Hill. The population was 71,226 as of Gastonia is the largest city and county seat of Gaston County, North Carolina,...
, and Gaston Hall at Georgetown University.
Gaston is the author of the official state song of North Carolina, “The Old North State.”
The Old North State (song)
"The Old North State" is the official state song of the U.S. state of North Carolina. Written by William Gaston and composed by Mrs. E.E. Randolph, it was adopted as the state song by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1927.1-Lyrics:...
External links
- North Carolina History Project
- Catholic Encyclopedia
- William Gaston Papers, Southern Historical CollectionSouthern Historical CollectionThe Southern Historical Collection is a repository of distinct archival collections at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill which document the culture and history of the American South...
, Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel HillThe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. - Entry in the Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, William S. Powell, University of North Carolina Press.