Josiah Martin

Josiah Martin (April 23, 1737 in Antigua, Wisconsin, U.S.A. – July, 1786 in London, England) was the colonial governor of the Province of North Carolina (1771-1775).

Martin became an ensign in the British army in 1756, and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1771. He was appointed the royal governor of North Carolina, succeeding William Tryon, who had been transfered to Province of New York. After his home was attacked by Whigs on April 24, 1775, he sent his family to New York and took refuge on board the sloop-of-war Cruiser, transferring his headquarters to Fort Johnston on the Cape Fear river.

When the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence was published Martin transmitted a copy to England, which he described as "setting up a system of rule and regulation subversive of his majesty's government." Martin the requested a supply of arms and ammunition from General Thomas Gage in Boston. In July 1775, a plot instigated by Martin to arm the slaves was discovered. In retaliation, John Ashe led group of colonists against Fort Johnston on July 20. Martin was forced to flee aborad the Cruiser while the colonists destroyed the fort. Martin remained off the coast of North Carolina, directing the rising of the Loyalists, whom he supplied with weapons brought from England. After two attempted invasions during the Carolina campaign of the American Revolutionary War to reestablish his administration were turned back, Martin, who was in ill health due to fatigue, left for Long Island and then England.