MARTIN, Alexander, a Senator from North Carolina; born in Hunterdon County, N.J., in 1740; attended the common schools; graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1756; moved to Salisbury, N.C., and became a merchant, justice of the peace, and judge; represented Guilford County, to which he had moved, in the State house of commons 1773-1774, and in the provincial congress 1775; an officer during the Revolutionary War; member, State senate 1778-1782, 1785, 1787-1788, and served as speaker; Acting Governor of North Carolina 1781-1782, Governor 1782-1784, 1789-1792; elected to the Continental Congress in 1786 but resigned; delegate to the State convention for the adoption of the Federal Constitution in 1787; trustee of the University of North Carolina 1790-1807 and served as president of the board 1792-1793; elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1793, to March 3, 1799; unsuccessful candidate for reelection; member, State senate 1804-1805; died on his plantation, “Danbury,” on the Dan River, Rockingham County, N.C., November 2, 1807; interment on his estate.