Beverley Randolph
Encyclopedia
Beverley Randolph was an American
politician from Virginia
. He served as the eighth Governor of Virginia
from 1788 to 1791.
Beverley was one of four children born to Peter Randolph (William Randolph II
and Elizabeth Beverley's son) and Lucille (Bolling) Randolph (Robert Bolling Jr.'s daughter), at Turkey Island in Henrico County
. One of Beverley's siblings was William Fitzhugh
's wife, Ann Bolling Randolph Fitzhugh. (Turkey Island is both an island in the James River
and the name of the Randolph family plantation.)
Beverley was educated at William and Mary
and married Martha Cocke in 1775. He served in the militia during the Revolutionary War
, was a member of the Virginia Assembly and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
from 1777 to 1780. When George Wythe
withdrew from the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, George Mason
suggested that Randolph (who happened to be in Philadelphia at the time) be appointed in his place. The Council and governor decided that in light of the abilities of Virginia's remaining delegates, Wythe did not need to be replaced. Randolph was elected Governor of Virginia
in 1788, the first to be elected after Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution. He died on his farm near Green Creek in Cumberland County
. His interment was at the Westview Cemetery in nearby Farmville, Virginia
.
His mother was a lineal descendant of Thomas Rolfe
, Pocahontas
and John Rolfe
's son.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He served as the eighth Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
from 1788 to 1791.
Beverley was one of four children born to Peter Randolph (William Randolph II
William Randolph II
William Randolph II of Wilton , also known as William Randolph, Jr. or Councillor Randolph, was the Treasurer of Virginia and the oldest child of William Randolph and Mary Isham.-Biography and family:...
and Elizabeth Beverley's son) and Lucille (Bolling) Randolph (Robert Bolling Jr.'s daughter), at Turkey Island in Henrico County
Henrico County, Virginia
Henrico is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2010, Henrico was home to 306,935 people. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. One of Beverley's siblings was William Fitzhugh
William Fitzhugh
William Fitzhugh was an American planter and statesman who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress for Virginia in 1779. -Life:...
's wife, Ann Bolling Randolph Fitzhugh. (Turkey Island is both an island in the James River
James River (Virginia)
The James River is a river in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is long, extending to if one includes the Jackson River, the longer of its two source tributaries. The James River drains a catchment comprising . The watershed includes about 4% open water and an area with a population of 2.5 million...
and the name of the Randolph family plantation.)
Beverley was educated at William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
and married Martha Cocke in 1775. He served in the militia during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, was a member of the Virginia Assembly and was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
from 1777 to 1780. When George Wythe
George Wythe
George Wythe was an American lawyer, a judge, a prominent law professor and "Virginia's foremost classical scholar." He was a teacher and mentor of Thomas Jefferson. Wythe's signature is positioned at the head of the list of seven Virginia signatories on the United States Declaration of Independence...
withdrew from the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
suggested that Randolph (who happened to be in Philadelphia at the time) be appointed in his place. The Council and governor decided that in light of the abilities of Virginia's remaining delegates, Wythe did not need to be replaced. Randolph was elected Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
in 1788, the first to be elected after Virginia ratified the U.S. Constitution. He died on his farm near Green Creek in Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,017 people, 3,528 households, and 2,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 4,085 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
. His interment was at the Westview Cemetery in nearby Farmville, Virginia
Farmville, Virginia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Prince Edward County....
.
His mother was a lineal descendant of Thomas Rolfe
Thomas Rolfe
Thomas Rolfe was the only child of Pocahontas by her English husband, John Rolfe. His maternal grandfather was Wahunsunacock, the chief of Powhatan tribe in Virginia.-Early Life:Thomas Rolfe was born in Virginia...
, Pocahontas
Pocahontas
Pocahontas was a Virginia Indian notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the head of a network of tributary tribal nations in Tidewater Virginia...
and John Rolfe
John Rolfe
John Rolfe was one of the early English settlers of North America. He is credited with the first successful cultivation of tobacco as an export crop in the Colony of Virginia and is known as the husband of Pocahontas, daughter of the chief of the Powhatan Confederacy.In 1961, the Jamestown...
's son.