43 Facts About Nathaniel Macon

Nathaniel Macon was an American politician who represented North Carolina in both houses of Congress.

Nathaniel Macon was the fifth speaker of the House, serving from 1801 to 1807.

Nathaniel Macon was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1791 to 1815 and a member of the United States Senate from 1815 to 1828.

Nathaniel Macon opposed ratification of the United States Constitution and the Federalist economic policies of Alexander Hamilton.

An earnest defender of slavery, Macon voted against the Missouri Compromise in 1820.

Nathaniel Macon served as president of the 1835 North Carolina constitutional convention.

Nathaniel Macon was born near Warrenton, North Carolina, the son of Maj.

Gideon Nathaniel Macon, a Virginia native, and North Carolina-born Priscilla Jones, and through his great-grandfather, Col.

Gideon Macon, allegedly a French Huguenot, Nathaniel was second cousin of First Lady Martha Dandridge Washington.

Gideon Macon had built "Macon Manor" and became a prosperous tobacco planter, where Nathaniel was born as the sixth child of Gideon and Priscilla, and he was only two when his father died in 1761.

Nathaniel Macon was bequeathed two parcels of land and all of his father's blacksmithing tools.

Nathaniel Macon performed a short term of military duty during the American Revolution.

Nathaniel Macon returned to North Carolina in the fall of 1776, and studied law for three years.

Nathaniel Macon rejoined the Revolution as a private in 1780, and was likely present at the Battle of Camden.

Nathaniel Macon met Hannah Plummer in 1782 in Warrenton, North Carolina.

Nathaniel Macon was a tall man, over 6 feet, and considered attractive, but he was not the only man who was pursuing Miss Plummer.

However, after a number of months of courtship, Hannah and Nathaniel Macon decided to marry.

One story often told of her courtship involves Nathaniel Macon challenging an unnamed potential suitor to a card game, with Hannah Plummer as the prize.

The offer was accepted, and Nathaniel Macon lost the card game.

Nathaniel Macon's brother was the lawyer Kemp Plummer, the grandfather of Kemp Plummer Battle.

Kemp Plummer and Nathaniel Macon were both part of the "Warren Junto" which included James Turner, Weldon Edwards, William Hawkins, and William Miller, all of whom dominated North Carolina political life at that time.

Nathaniel Macon's remains were buried not far from their home on the borders of their yard.

When Nathaniel Macon died July 29,1837, at age 79, he was laid to rest next to his wife and son.

Nathaniel Macon's plantation grew to 1,945 acres, served by 70 slaves, with whom he often worked together in the fields, as well as serving as justice of the peace and a trustee of the Warrenton Academy.

Nathaniel Macon raised thoroughbred race horses and had a pack of fox hounds, in 1819 hosting President Monroe for a hunt.

Nathaniel Macon served in the North Carolina Senate for Warren County in 1781,1782, and 1784.

Nathaniel Macon opposed the Constitution and spent his four decades in Congress making sure the national government would remain weak.

Nathaniel Macon was rural and local-minded, and economy was the passion of his public career.

Nathaniel Macon supported all of the foreign policies of Jefferson and Madison from 1801 to 1817.

Nathaniel Macon was especially hostile to a navy, fearing the expense would create a financial interest.

Nathaniel Macon served as Speaker of the House from 1801 to 1807.

Nathaniel Macon was the fifth person, and first Southerner to serve in the office.

Nathaniel Macon supported the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and tried to get Jefferson to purchase Florida as well.

Nathaniel Macon did not seek a fourth term as speaker when the 10th Congress convened in 1807.

Nathaniel Macon supported Madison in declaring the War of 1812; he opposed conscription to build the army and opposed higher taxes.

Nathaniel Macon did favor some road construction by the federal government, but generally opposed the policy of internal improvements promoted by Henry Clay and John C Calhoun.

Nathaniel Macon opposed the recharter of the United States Bank in 1811 and in 1816, uniformly voted against any form of protective tariff.

Nathaniel Macon was considered a potential candidate for the presidency in 1824 but declined.

Nathaniel Macon won 24 electoral votes for vice president as the stand-in running-mate for William Harris Crawford.

Nathaniel Macon was asked to run for the vice presidency again in 1828 but declined.

Nathaniel Macon served as President of the 1835 convention to amend and reform the Constitution of North Carolina.

Nathaniel Macon was largely opposed to the amendments that were adopted.

Nathaniel Macon served as a trustee of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and supported Martin Van Buren in the election of 1836.