James G. Martin
James Martin | |
|---|---|
Martin at Johnson AFB, December 1988 | |
| 70th Governor of North Carolina | |
| In office January 5, 1985 – January 9, 1993 | |
| Lieutenant | Robert Jordan Jim Gardner |
| Preceded by | Jim Hunt |
| Succeeded by | Jim Hunt |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from North Carolina's 9th district | |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Charles R. Jonas |
| Succeeded by | Alex McMillan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Grubbs Martin December 11, 1935 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Dorothy McAulay |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Davidson College (BS) Princeton University (PhD) |
James Grubbs Martin (born December 11, 1935) is an American chemist and politician who served as the 70th governor of North Carolina from 1985 to 1993. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served six terms as the U.S. representative for North Carolina's 9th congressional district from 1973 to 1985.
Martin was the third Republican elected governor of North Carolina after Reconstruction, the second since the 1900 North Carolina gubernatorial election, and the fifth overall. As of 2026, he was also the only Republican to serve two full terms as governor of the state. Since the passing of James Holshouser in 2013, Martin is North Carolina's oldest surviving governor and Since Jim Hunt's passing in 2025, He is also the last surviving governor to have served in the 20th century.