Ashe, John Baptista, 1748-1802

John Baptista Ashe (1748 – November 27, 1802) was a slave owner, U.S. Congressman, and Continental Army officer from Halifax, North Carolina.

Born in the Rocky Point District of the Province of North Carolina, Ashe was privately tutored at home before engaging in agricultural pursuits. He served as a lieutenant in the Province of North Carolina New Hanover County militia during the time of the Regulator uprising in 1771. Later, during the American Revolutionary War, he served as a minuteman in the Salisbury District, and the 6th North Carolina Regiment of the North Carolina Line (Continental Army), leading the "Majors" company. He served in the Province of North Carolina House of Burgesses in 1775. Ashe served in the North Carolina House of Commons from 1784 to 1786, serving as Speaker of that body in 1786. He was a delegate to the Congress of the Confederation in 1787. In 1789, Ashe was a delegate and Chairman of the Committee of the whole of the Fayetteville Convention that ratified the Constitution of the United States. That same year, he served in the North Carolina Senate.

Ashe was elected to the 1st United States Congress and the 2nd United States Congress as an Pro-Administration (Federalist) candidate, serving from 1790 to 1793. He was elected to the North Carolina State House as a Democratic-Republican in 1795 and 1796. After two losing bids for Governor of North Carolina in 1800 and 1801, the North Carolina General Assembly elected Ashe Governor in 1802 but he died in Halifax before he could take office. He is buried in Halifax's Churchyard Cemetery.