John Branch

Jacksonian Representative of North Carolina's 2nd district

Congresses Served

House Terms

Senate Terms

November 4, 1782 (80 years old)

Birthday

January 3, 1863

Death

Served as U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, 19th Governor of North Carolina, and the last territorial governor of Florida.
Born to wealthy landowners and educated at the University of North Carolina, where he was a member of the Philanthropic Society.
Occupied himself as a planter and civic leader before entering politics.
Served in the North Carolina Senate from 1811 to 1817, then as Governor of North Carolina from 1817 to 1820.
Represented North Carolina in the United States Senate from 1823 until 1829, supporting Andrew Jackson.
As Secretary of the Navy under President Jackson, promoted reforms and focused on maintaining existing naval vessels while reducing construction of new ships.
Sent the USS Potomac to the Far East to protect American commerce.
Resigned as Secretary of the Navy during the Petticoat affair in 1831.
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Jacksonian after his resignation.
Moved to Leon County, Florida, in the mid-1830s, living there until appointed as Florida’s territorial governor by President John Tyler in 1844.
Returned to North Carolina in the early 1850s and remained there until his death in 1863.
Buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Enfield, North Carolina.
Married Eliza Fort and had 7 children.
Uncle to Confederate General Lawrence O’Bryan Branch.
His daughter, Margaret, married Daniel Smith Donelson, the nephew of President Jackson.
Named as the namesake for Branch County, Michigan, and its inaugural seat, the village of Branch.