James Bunbury White

James Bunbury White (December 31, 1774 – October 1, 1819) was an American politician and millwright. He was a member of both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly, was the first to represent Columbus County in the North Carolina Senate, and was the founder of Whiteville, North Carolina.

Biography James Bunbury White was born December 31, 1774, and was the eldest son of James White and Bridget Day. James White was the sheriff of Bladen County and was a politician who represented Bladen County in the General Assembly and at the Second North Carolina Provincial Congress. James Bunbury White lived on his family plantation, Glen Etive Plantation, had one half-sibling, William Henry Beatty, born from his mother's first marriage, and was one of four siblings. His middle name Bunbury was the name of both his mother's uncle and brother.

White was a millwright by trade and resided in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1800. On December 31, 1804, White's 30th birthday, he purchased several large tracts of land of the western side of White Marsh in Columbus County. The tracts included White Marsh Castle, the home that John Burgwin had occupied before he moved to Wilmington, and the future site of Whiteville. He continued in the land trade and accumulated large land holdings. White was granted at least 98 tracts for 10,750 acres. He and his wife were owners of many slaves. In 1810, an act was passed that authorized White to "lay off a town on his own lands in the county of Columbus" and appointed five commissioners "for the purpose of laying off a town on the lands of the said James B. White, in the county aforesaid, at the place fixed on to erect the public buildings for said county; which town, when laid off by said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall be named Whitesville, and the lots thereof shall be for the sole benefit and disposal of the said James B. White." He was the first postmaster of the original Columbus County Courthouse.

White died on October 1, 1819, during an epidemic of yellow fever. He was buried on his family plantation, Glen Etive. the politician in Alabama that organized the Buford Expedition to the Kansas Territory.

Legacy The city of Whiteville, North Carolina, is named after him. It was formerly known as Whitesville and the name was officially changed by the U.S. Post Office in 1889.