Joseph W. Holden (1844–1875) was a

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

politician in the nineteenth century. He was the son of

William Woods Holden William Woods Holden (November 24, 1818 – March 1, 1892) was an American politician who served as the List of Governors of North Carolina, 38th and 40th governor of North Carolina. He was appointed by President of the United States, President ...

. During the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, Holden served in the

Confederate States Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

and was captured by Union forces at

Roanoke Island Roanoke Island () is an island in Dare County, North Carolina, Dare County, bordered by the Outer Banks of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke (tribe), Roanoke, a Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the ar ...

. In 1865, his father handed over to him the editorship of the '' North Carolina Standard''. A Republican, he was elected in 1868 to the

North Carolina House of Representatives The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the North Ca ...

from Wake County. Holden served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives while his party controlled the

state legislature A state legislature is a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. Two federations literally use the term "state legislature": * The legislative branches of each of the fifty state governments of the United Sta ...

in 1868-1870, but he resigned before the end of his term. In 1868, Holden was also a delegate to the

Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the United States Republican Party. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal of the Repu ...

. In 1870, Holden lost a close race in a special election to the United States House of Representatives, the result of which he unsuccessfully contested. In 1874-1875, he served as

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

Raleigh, North Carolina Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the List of North Carolina county seats, seat of Wake County, North Carolina, Wake County in the United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, second-most ...

. Called "one of the most talented men that the State has ever produced" by a local historian, Holden, who was also a noted poet. He died at age 31 in 1875.News & Observer blog: More on the first GOP mayor

References

Mayors of Raleigh, North Carolina Republican Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives Poets from North Carolina 1844 births 1875 deaths Holden family Speakers of the North Carolina House of Representatives People of North Carolina in the American Civil War 19th-century American poets American male poets 19th-century American male writers 19th-century American politicians {{RaleighNC-stub

See also

References