Charles McDowell (North Carolina)


Charles McDowell was a Brigadier General of the Morgan District Brigade of the North Carolina Militia during the American Revolution, state senator, and County Justice of Peace in Burke County, North Carolina.

Early life

Charles McDowell was born on October 18, 1743 in Winchester, Frederick County, Virginia. He was the son of Joseph McDowell and Margaret McDowell. He and his brother Joseph McDowell Jr. moved with his parent to the area called Quaker Meadows in Rowan County, North Carolina.

Military service

He served as an officer in the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution. He was involved in many skirmishes with the Cherokee during the war.
Before the war, he served in the state senate of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1777 and 1778. As the war ended, he took up service again and served as a state senator from 1782 to 1789. He was one of three commissioners chosen to lay off the county seat, Morganton, in Burke County in 1784. He was in favor of the federal constitution and participated in the North Carolina United States Constitution conventions in 1788 and 1789.
He died on March 31, 1815 and was buried at the Quaker Meadows Cemetery in Morganton.