William W. Holden
Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina
Marker Inscription
William W. Holden 1818 1892. Editor. Appointed provisional governor, 1865. Elected governor, 1868; impeached and removed, 1871. Home stood here.
Erected by North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
The Story
William W. Holden, a powerful newspaper editor, was appointed provisional governor of North Carolina in 1865 and elected to the office in 1868 during Reconstruction. His campaign against the Ku Klux Klan led to his impeachment and removal in 1871, the first of a U.S. governor. His home once stood on this site.
Why it matters
His rise and downfall capture the violent political struggle over Reconstruction, when efforts to defend Black rights collided with a resurgent white opposition.
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Related people
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Themes & tags
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