A Sampson county native, Gabriel Holmes served as North Carolina’s 21st Governor. Hailing from the small town of Clinton, Holmes education began at Zion Parnassus Academy and later attended Harvard College. Upon completing his degree, Holmes returned to Sampson County and took an interest to the legal field, eventually receiving tutelage under future chief justice John Louis Taylor.
After practicing law for a few years, Holmes developed an interest in politics. His first political role came as a member the Democratic-Republican Party in the North Carolina House of Commons in 1794, for which he served a one-year term. In 1797, Holmes was elected to the North Carolina Senate, serving in that capacity for five years. Once his Senate tenure ended, Holmes did not seek any political seats until 1820, when he was defeated in the gubernatorial bid by Jesse Franklin. However, just one year later, Holmes secured the governorship in a fiercely contested race decided by a slim margin of victory from numerous ballots counted.
During his gubernatorial term, Holmes promoted agricultural reform. Despite the notion that the nation was on the verge of industrializing, Holmes argued that Southern agrarian societies must continue to remain relevant for the sake of North Carolina’s economy. Holmes also stressed that farms must modernize to improve efficiency. To execute this reform, Holmes introduced agricultural classes at preparatory schools and at the University of North Carolina (where he served as a trustee) so that students would appreciate the value of agriculture. Moreover, Holmes established the concept of a model farm, which focused on generating greater production through progressive farming methods (ex. cast-iron plows, greater employment of cotton gin). Holmes also implored the General Assembly, in 1822, to distribute state funds for the promotion of work undertaken by local agricultural societies.
Following his third term as governor in 1824, Holmes still yearned to remain active in politics. In 1825, the voters of North Carolina honored that request and elected him to the U.S. House of Representatives. Holmes would spend the rest of his life serving in the U.S. House, pushing for a variety of issues ranging from agricultural reform to improving militia affairs. He also served as Chairman of the Committee of Expenditures in the Post Office Department. In 1829, when the House was in recess, Holmes passed away at his Sampson County residence. He is interred on the estate grounds.