Archibald Roane

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Archibald Roane (1759 or 1760 – 1819) was the second Governor of Tennessee, serving from 1801 to 1803.

Roane was born in Dauphin or Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was an attorney by profession and a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, having served under George Washington and present at the surrender of General Cornwallis. He arrived in Tennessee in 1788 and began practicing law. In 1796 he was sent to the Tennessee state constitutional convention.

In 1801, Governor John Sevier had reached the limit of three consecutive terms allowed as governor under the State Constitution of 1796, which Roane had helped to write while a delegate. He was elected as Sevier's successor. The Great Seal of Tennessee was adopted during the Roane Administration in 1801. Also during this term, Tennessee was divided into three Congressional districts.

While in office, any chance that Roane had to have a good relationship with former Governor Sevier was shattered when he cast a tie-breaking vote for Sevier's opponent, Andrew Jackson, in an election for a militia generalship. Sevier defeated Roane for re-election two years later, and wound up serving three more terms before again reaching the state constitution's term limits.

Roane later served as a Superior Court judge, and was a promoter of institutions of higher learning until his death. He is buried near Campbell's Station, today part of Farragut, Tennessee. Roane County, Tennessee is named in his honor.