Charles Brantley Aycock

Charles Brantley Aycock
Charles Aycock, from The World's Work
50th Governor of North Carolina
In office January 15, 1901 - January 11, 1905
Preceded by	Daniel Lindsay Russell
Succeeded by	Robert Broadnax Glenn
Personal details
Born	November 1, 1859 Wayne County, North Carolina
Died	April 4, 1912 (aged 52) Birmingham, Alabama
Cause of death	Heart attack
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Occupation	Politician, lawyer, educator

Charles Brantley Aycock (November 1, 1859 – April 4, 1912) was the 50th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1901 to 1905. After starting his career as a lawyer and teacher, he became active in the Democratic Party during the party's Solid South period, and was a strong proponent of the white supremacy campaigns of that period.

Under his tenure as governor, he was an advocate for the improvement of the state's public school systems, and following his term in office, he traveled the country promoting educational causes.

Charles B. Aycock was born in Wayne County, North Carolina as the youngest of the 10 children of Benjamin and Serena Aycock. His family lived near the present-day town of Fremont, North Carolina, then known as Nahunta. Though his father died when he was 15, his mother and older brothers recognized his abilities and determined that he should go to college. Aycock attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and joined Philanthropic Society, a debate and literary society at the university. After graduating in 1880 with first honors in both oratory and essay writing, he entered law practice in Goldsboro and supplemented his income by teaching school. His success in both fields led to his appointment as superintendent of schools for Wayne County and to service on the school board in Goldsboro.

His political career began in 1888 as a presidential elector for Grover Cleveland, when he gained distinction as an orator and political debater. From 1893 to 1897 he served as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.