Cameron A. Morrison (October 5, 1869August 20, 1953) was an American politician and the 55th governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1921 to 1925.

Early life and career

He was born in 1869 in Richmond County, North Carolina. In 1898, Morrison participated in the

Wilmington insurrection of 1898 The Wilmington insurrection of 1898, also known as the Wilmington massacre of 1898 or the Wilmington coup of 1898, was a coup d'état and massacre carried out by white supremacists in Wilmington, North Carolina, United States, on Thursday, Novem ...

, a violent coup d'état by a group of white supremacists. They expelled opposition black and white political leaders from the city, destroyed the property and businesses of black citizens built up since the Civil War, including the only black newspaper in the city, and killed an estimated 60 to more than 300 people. The governor of North Carolina,

Daniel Lindsay Russell Daniel Lindsay Russell Jr. (August 7, 1845May 14, 1908) was the 49th Governor of North Carolina, serving from 1897 to 1901. An attorney, judge, and politician, he had also been elected as state representative and to the United States Congress, ...

, was forced to flee from Wilmington to Raleigh. Morrison boarded Russell's train in Maxton, North Carolina in the company of a small band of Red Shirts and warned Russell that a more hostile band of Red Shirts were waiting at a later stop. He advised Russell to hide in the baggage car to avoid being lynched, which he did. In 1900, he was elected to the North Carolina Senate for one term.

Governorship

With the backing of Sen.

Furnifold Simmons Furnifold McLendel Simmons (January 20, 1854April 30, 1940) was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1887, to March 4, 1889, and U.S. senator from the state of North ...

and the help of

race-baiting Incitement to ethnic or racial hatred is a crime under the laws of several countries. Australia In Australia, the Racial Hatred Act 1995 amends the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, inserting Part IIA – Offensive Behaviour Because of Race, Colour ...

tactics employed by

A. D. Watts Alston Davidson "Aus" Watts (1867–1927) was a North Carolina politician. A Democrat, Watts represented Iredell County, North Carolina in the North Carolina House of Representatives (1901 and 1903) and in the North Carolina Senate. In 1912, Wa ...

, Morrison defeated

O. Max Gardner Oliver Max Gardner (March 22, 1882February 6, 1947) was an American politician who served as the List of Governors of North Carolina, 57th Governor of North Carolina, governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1929 to 1933. A member of the ...

in the

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War in 1920: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its own ma ...

Democratic primary for governor. In the general election, he defeated Republican nominee John J. Parker. He came to be called "the Good Roads governor" for his support of a modern highway system. Morrison also pushed for increased funds for public education, while also battling the teaching of the theory of evolution.

Later career

He was later appointed to serve as a United States senator for the state of North Carolina (after the death of

Lee S. Overman Lee Slater Overman (January 3, 1854December 12, 1930) was a Democratic U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1903 and 1930. He was the first US Senator to be elected by popular vote in the state, as the legislature had appointed ...

) between 1930 and 1932, but lost his seat in the Democratic primary runoff to

Robert R. Reynolds Robert Rice Reynolds (June 18, 1884 – February 13, 1963) was an American politician who served as a Democratic US senator from North Carolina from 1932 to 1945. Almost from the outset of his Senate career, "Our Bob," as he was known among ...

. Morrison was later elected to one term in the United States House of Representatives from 1943 to 1945. He again lost a Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat in 1944, to Clyde R. Hoey. He died in Quebec City in 1953.

Legacy

A ten-story residence hall on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill is named in Morrison's honor. His home at Charlotte,

Morrocroft Morrocroft is a historic home located at Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. It was designed by architect Harrie T. Lindeberg and built between 1925 and 1927. It is a Colonial Revival architecture, Colonial R ...

, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. A library in Charlotte was named after Morrison, but was renamed in 2020 due to Morrison's ties with the Red Shirts and white supremacy. A residence hall at North Carolina A&T State University was also named after Morrison, but the name was removed in 2020.

References

External links

*Cameron Morriso

at

NCpedia The State Library of North Carolina is an institution which serves North Carolina libraries, state government employees, genealogists, and the citizens of North Carolina. The library is the main depository for North Carolina state publications an ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morrison, Cameron A. 1869 births 1953 deaths People from Rockingham, North Carolina Democratic Party governors of North Carolina Democratic Party North Carolina state senators 1916 United States presidential electors North Carolina lawyers Politicians from Charlotte, North Carolina Democratic Party United States senators from North Carolina Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina Lawyers from Charlotte, North Carolina 20th-century American politicians Wilmington insurrection of 1898 Neo-Confederates American Christian creationists Old Right (United States)