William T. Faircloth
Encyclopedia
William Turner Faircloth (died 1900) was the chief justice
of the North Carolina Supreme Court
from 1895 until his death on December 29, 1900.
According to his New York Times obituary, Faircloth had become one of the wealthiest men in his hometown, Goldsboro, North Carolina
, where he served on the board of directors of the Bank of Wayne. He was also described as "one of the most prominent Republicans
in Eastern North Carolina."
Faircloth was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina
. He practiced law before serving in the Second North Carolina Infantry during the American Civil War
. In 1867, he married Eviline Wooten.
Faircloth was elected to represent Wayne County in the North Carolina House of Commons and at a state constitutional convention, both in 1865. As of 1867, he was solicitor (district attorney
) for the state's Second Circuit. He was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1875 by Gov. Curtis Hooks Brogden
, and served until 1879. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
in 1884, losing to Charles M. Stedman. He was nominated by the Republicans for the state Supreme Court in 1890, but lost. In the 1894 election, as the "fusion
" nominee of Republicans and Populists, Faircloth defeated incumbent Chief Justice James E. Shepherd
.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
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...
from 1895 until his death on December 29, 1900.
According to his New York Times obituary, Faircloth had become one of the wealthiest men in his hometown, Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Goldsboro is a city in Wayne County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 37,597 at the 2008 census estimate. It is the principal city of and is included in the Goldsboro, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nearby town of Waynesboro was founded in 1787 and Goldsboro was...
, where he served on the board of directors of the Bank of Wayne. He was also described as "one of the most prominent Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in Eastern North Carolina."
Faircloth was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina
Edgecombe County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 55,606 people, 20,392 households, and 14,804 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 24,002 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile...
. He practiced law before serving in the Second North Carolina Infantry during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In 1867, he married Eviline Wooten.
Faircloth was elected to represent Wayne County in the North Carolina House of Commons and at a state constitutional convention, both in 1865. As of 1867, he was solicitor (district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
) for the state's Second Circuit. He was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1875 by Gov. Curtis Hooks Brogden
Curtis Hooks Brogden
Curtis Hooks Brogden was the 42nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1874 to 1877.He was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina, the son of a local farmer. Brogden joined the North Carolina state militia at the age of 18 and rose to the rank of major general...
, and served until 1879. He was the Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
The Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina is the second highest elected official in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is the only elected official to have powers in both the legislative and executive branches of state government...
in 1884, losing to Charles M. Stedman. He was nominated by the Republicans for the state Supreme Court in 1890, but lost. In the 1894 election, as the "fusion
Electoral fusion
Electoral fusion is an arrangement where two or more political parties on a ballot list the same candidate, pooling the votes for that candidate...
" nominee of Republicans and Populists, Faircloth defeated incumbent Chief Justice James E. Shepherd
James E. Shepherd
James Edward Shepherd was a lawyer and jurist who served on the North Carolina Supreme Court.Shepherd was born at Mintonville, near Suffolk, Virginia, the son of Thomas Swepson Shepherd and his first wife Ann Eliza Browne...
.