William Calhoun Newland was born in McDowell County, North Carolina, on October 8, 1857. Newland was an attorney and politician who served as mayor of Lenoir (Caldwell County), solicitor of the Eighth District, legislator (elected 1899 and 1903), and lieutenant governor during the administration of William W. Kitchin. He died in Banner Elk (Avery County), North Carolina, on November 18, 1938.