William Gaston

William Gaston
Portrait of Gaston by Asher Brown Durand, 1834
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from North Carolina's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1813 – March 3, 1817
Preceded byWilliam Blackledge
Succeeded byJesse Slocumb
Personal details
Born(1778-09-19)September 19, 1778
New Bern, North Carolina, US
DiedJanuary 23, 1844(1844-01-23) (aged 65)
Raleigh, North Carolina, US
Political partyFederalist, Whig
Spouses
Susan Hay
(m. 1803; died 1804)
Hannah McClure
(m. 1805; died 1813)
Eliza Ann Worthington
(m. 1816; died 1819)
Children5
Residence(s)Coor-Gaston House
Elmwood
EducationGeorgetown University
Alma materPrinceton University

William J. Gaston (September 19, 1778 – January 23, 1844) was a jurist and United States Representative from North Carolina. He was the author of the official state song of North Carolina, "The Old North State". Gaston County, North Carolina, created just after his death, was named for him, as later were the city of Gastonia, North Carolina, artificial Lake Gaston, and the Gaston Hall auditorium at his alma mater, Georgetown University.