<body><div>Born in 1827 in Davidson County, North Carolina, Benjamin Hedrick’s journey from a rural upbringing to a controversial academic career reflects the intense regional and ideological conflicts of his time.Hedrick’s early years were shaped by his family’s modest prosperity. With limited formal education available after his mother’s death in 1842, young Benjamin was tutored at home before attending the Lexington Classical School. His academic prowess eventually led him to the University of North Carolina (UNC), where he graduated with honors in 1851.<img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0c5b1Z_0vjfPKvR00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0c5b1Z_0vjfPKvR00" width="600" height="746" >After a notable stint in the U.S. Nautical Almanac Office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hedrick returned to North Carolina in 1854 to teach agricultural chemistry at UNC. Before moving to New England, Hedrick had been a supporter of the Democratic Party. However, by 1854, he had shifted his political allegiance to the northern-based, anti-slavery Republican Party. His professional and personal life took a dramatic turn in 1856 when he publicly declared his support for John C. Fremont, the Republican presidential candidate and an opponent of the expansion of slavery.Hedrick’s political stance was a significant departure from his previous Democratic alignment. It was particularly controversial in a state deeply entrenched in pro-slavery sentiments. His endorsement of Fremont, coupled with his opposition to the expansion of slavery, ignited a firestorm of backlash.The North Carolina Standard, a prominent Democratic newspaper, spearheaded a vigorous campaign against Hedrick. Following this, the university faculty passed resolutions condemning his political views. The executive committee of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees then formally endorsed the faculty’s decision, which effectively amounted to his dismissal. Meanwhile, the state’s newspapers largely remained unsupportive of Hedrick’s anti-slavery stance.Hedrick was not a radical abolitionist; he did not call for the immediate abolition of slavery but rather opposed its expansion into new territories, a stance later taken by Abraham Lincoln. Though he did not own slaves, Hedrick argued that the spread of slavery and the interstate slave trade were economically damaging to North Carolina.The backlash against Hedrick was not limited to the university. The furor surrounding him led to violent threats and mob action. In one infamous incident in Salisbury, a mob attempted to tar and feather him, forcing him to flee the state to escape further violence.Following his departure from North Carolina, Hedrick lived in several Northern cities, where he continued to contribute to the academic and political landscape. He held a prominent position as an examiner in the Chemical Division of the U.S. Patent Office, eventually becoming Chief Examiner.During the Civil War, Hedrick actively represented North Carolina Unionists in Washington, D.C., and supported North Carolinian soldiers held in Northern prisoner-of-war camps. In the Reconstruction era, he made occasional visits to North Carolina, where he played a key role in organizing the state’s Republican Party in 1867. He also championed black suffrage and worked to thwart the return of former secessionists to political power.In 1865, Hedrick sought to expedite North Carolina’s return to the Union but struggled to persuade state leaders to endorse Black suffrage, which he anticipated would be mandated by Congress. He also advocated for a moderate approach to shaping the Republican Party and recommended that the state’s governance be entrusted to the most capable individuals.Hedrick’s post-war life was marked by a continued commitment to his professional and political ideals. He worked as a chemist, lectured at various institutions, and remained an active participant in political and educational circles until his death at his home in Georgetown in 1886.</div></body>

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Mr. Benjamin Hedrick: The Academic And Political Controversy Of A Native’s Lifetime

Born in 1827 in Davidson County, North Carolina, Benjamin Hedrick’s journey from a rural upbringing to a controversial academic career reflects the intense regional and ideological conflicts of his time. Hedrick’s early years were shaped by his family’s modest prosperity. With limited formal education available after his mother’s death...