Governor Abner Nash

ABNER NASH was born near Farmville, Prince Edward County, Virginia on August 8, 1740. His early education was attained in the common schools of his native state. After moving to North Carolina, he studied law, and then established his legal career in Halifax. Nash first entered politics in 1761, serving as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, a position he held four years. He also served in the North Carolina Provincial Congress from 1774 to 1776; was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1778; and served as a member and president of the North Carolina Senate in 1779. Nash next won election to the governor’s office in 1780. During his tenure, North Carolina encountered some of the Revolutionary War’s most devastating battles. Also, Nash clashed with the legislature over war issues, which led to his resignation on June 26, 1781. In his last political position, he served as a member of the Continental Congress, an office he held from 1782 to 1783. Governor Abner Nash passed away on December 2, 1786, and his final resting place was in the family graveyard near New Bern, North Carolina.