Jesse Franklin (March 24, 1760 – August 31, 1823) was the Democratic-Republican U.S. senator from the U.S. state of North Carolina between 1799 and 1805 and between 1807 and 1813. He later served as the 20th Governor of North Carolina from 1820 to 1821.Jesse Franklin was the brother of Meshack Franklin, who also served in Congress. Jesse Franklin was born in Orange County, Virginia on March 24, 1760. He was the son of Bernard and Mary Franklin, the third of seven sons.