John Willis Ellis (November 23, 1820 – July 7, 1861) was the 35th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1859 to 1861. Elected as tensions were rising prior to the American Civil War, Ellis led his state to secede from the Union and join the Confederate States of America in May 1861, but he died shortly afterwards in July of that year from tuberculosis.
Early life
John Willis Ellis was born in the eastern part of Rowan County, North Carolina, which has since become part of Davidson County. He attended the University of North Carolina, studied law under Richmond Mumford Pearson, practiced law, and was elected to the North Carolina General Assembly from Rowan County. He served as a state superior court judge from 1848 to 1858.
Ellis won the governorship in the August 1858 election by a large majority over his opponent Duncan K. McRae, a Democrat supported by remnants of the Whig Party. Ellis was re-elected in 1860 by a smaller margin, defeating the Whig candidate, John Pool.
Civil War and death
Following the election of Abraham Lincoln as US President in November 1860, Ellis called for a conference of southern states “to enter into consultation with us, upon the present condition of the country." As a supporter of slavery, Governor Ellis also called on North Carolina to prepare troops for war and consider convening a state secession convention.