James R. Young

Who is James R. Young?

James R. Young was the first North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance. Born in 1853 in what was then Granville County, North Carolina, Young was educated at Hampden-Sydney College and established an insurance agency in Henderson. He also became the first clerk of court for the new county of Vance and served from 1881-1890.

In 1899, the North Carolina General Assembly elected Young the first state insurance commissioner, upon which he sold his insurance agency. He was later appointed by Gov. Charles B. Aycock to continue in the post. When the North Carolina Constitution was amended to make the office popularly elected, Young was elected in the general election of 1908 and subsequently re-elected until retiring after the 1920 election.