Zebulon Vance (1830-1895) was a lawyer, state legislator (1854), congressman (1858), U.S. senator (1870, 1878, 1885, 1891) and N.C. governor (1862,1864, 1876). He began his law studies in Tennessee, but came to the University of North Carolina in 1851. It was during this time that his true talent in politics emerged.

He was a Civil War governor, serving from 1862 to the end of the war. Because he had been the North Carolina's governor during the Civil War, Vance was arrested when the war ended and imprisoned in Washington, D.C. No charges were ever brought against him, and he was pardoned.After the war Vance returned to Charlotte to practice law.

When he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1870, he was initially prevented from serving due to restrictions placed on former Confederates. In 1876, Vance again ran for election to the office of Governor of North Carolina. He was opposed in the election by Thomas Settle. The rivalry between Vance and opponent Thomas Settle was so fierce that it was said 4,000 people came tohear the two men debate.

Zebulon Vance was married in 1853 to Harriet Espy; they had three children. In 1880 he married Florence Steele Martin. Vance is buried in Asheville, Governor Vance is still remembered and admired for the length of his career, and for his dedication to the people of North Carolina in war and peacetime.