Gabriel Johnston

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Gabriel Johnston (1699-1752) was the colonial Governor of North Carolina from 1734 to 1752, the longest-serving governor in state history. While historians know little of his early years, he was born in Scotland and attended the University of St. Andrews where he trained to become a physician. Johnston never took up medicine, however. He instead became a professor of oriental languages at his alma mater then made his way to London where he became a political pundit and commentator, a member of the opposition to Robert Walpole.

Johnston was appointed Governor of North Carolina in 1734 and arrived to a warm welcome in early November. He married Penelope Eden, the step-daughter of Governor Charles Eden. During his tenure as governor, Johnston presided over a colony strapped for cash, hampered by bitter partisanship in its assembly, in chaos as Spanish privateers plundered the coast, and in disagreement over land rights and taxes. Johnston came under pressure for allegedly not corresponding with British authorities in London but soon cleared his name.Despite these challenges, Johnson welcomed thousands of immigrants to the colony (first group of which were the Highland Scots), oversaw the first printing of the laws of the colony, and pushed legislation strengthening the Anglican Church.