Angus Wilton McLean

Angus W. McLean
56th Governor of North Carolina
In office January 14, 1925 – January 11, 1929
Lieutenant	Jacob E. Long
Preceded by	Cameron A. Morrison
Succeeded by	Oliver Max Gardner
Personal details
Born	April 20, 1870 Robeson County, North Carolina
Died	June 21, 1935 (aged 65) Washington D.C.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Margaret French McLean
Alma mater	University of North Carolina
Profession	Businessman
Religion	Baptist

Angus Wilton McLean (April 20, 1870 – June 21, 1935) was a lawyer and banker who was the 56th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1925 to 1929. McLean also served as Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury from 1920-1921.

He was born in Robeson County, North Carolina and educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned a law degree in 1892. McLean first entered politics in 1892, serving as the chairman of the Robeson County Democratic Executive Committee. A supporter of Woodrow Wilson, he was a delegate to Democratic National Conventions and sat on the Democratic National Committee. From 1918 to 1922 he served on the War Finance Corporation board, and from 1920 to 1921 he was the assistant secretary of the Treasury.

McLean secured the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1924 by defeating Josiah W. Bailey. During his tenure, an executive budget system was initiated; a department of conservation and development was established; and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was formed. Governor McLean continued the practice, established by his predecessors Thomas Bickett and Cameron Morrison, of deploying National Guard troops to prevent potential lynchings. After completing his term, McLean retired from political life. His son, Hector (1920–2012), became a bank president and state senator.^[1]

Notes

1. News & Observer Archived December 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.

References

• Biography at Website on Evolution Controversy in NC
• National Governors Association