Beverly Sampson Royster was born in Granville County, North Carolina, on January 17, 1865. Royster, a lawyer by training and profession, was a long-time member of the North Carolina National Guard, joining the service in 1886. Working his way up the ranks, he was twice appointed Adjutant General. His first stint lasted from June 1916 to August 1917 under the governorships of Locke Craig and Thomas Bickett. Upon the resignation of Lawrence W. Young, Bickett turned again to Royster to fill the position, and he served this second assignment as Adjutant General from September 1918 to June 1920. Royster died in Oxford on November 16, 1929.