History of Williamsburg, (Williamsburg (city) County) Virginia United States of America

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Biographies:

Robert Henley, naval officer, was born in Williamsburg, Va., Jan. 5, 1788; brother of John Dandridge Henley. He was educated at William and Mary college and intended for the law, but preferred to enter the navy, and obtained through his kinsman, ex-President George Washington, a midshipman's warrant, April 8, 1799. His first cruise was with Commodore Truxtun in the Constellation and he was present at her encounter with the French ship La Vengeance, Feb. 1, 1800. For his bravery in this conflict he was commended by his commander. On his return to the United States he obtained leave of absence and returned to Williamsburg, where he attended a course of lectures on navigation and naval science. He was promoted lieutenant, Jan. 29, 1807, and placed in command of a gunboat at Norfolk, Va. After some years of similar service he was promoted commander, Aug. 12, 1814, and was placed in command of the brig Eagle on Lake Champlain, and was second in command to Commodore McDonough in the battle of Sept. 11, 1814. He opened the battle, and when he had determined the range the flagship Saratoga joined in the fight. For his gallant conduct in this engagement congress voted to him a gold medal and the thanks of both houses. In 1821 he was sent to the West Indies to cruise for pirates, being master-commandant of the 18-gun sloop-of-war Hornet, and on Oct. 29, 1821, he captured the schooner Moscow. He was promoted captain, March 3, 1823. After his return to the United States he was stationed for some years in North Carolina, and thence was ordered to Sullivan's Island, near Charleston, S.C., where he died while in command of the naval station, Oct. 7, 1828.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Samuel Tyler, chancellor, was born in James City county, Va., 1766; nephew of Judge John Tyler . He attended William and Mary college, Va., studied law and became prominent in his profession. He was married to Elizabeth, daughter of James Bray Johnson of Charles City county, Va. He was elected a representative in the Virginia legislature in 1798; a member of the council in 1801, and was commissioned by Gov. James Monroe to report on the presidential canvass between Jefferson and Burr, reporting that if an attempt was made to elect Burr, armed interference would be made. He was elected chancellor of the Williamsburg district to succeed Mann Page, Dec. 21, 1803, and died at Williamsburg, Va., March 28, 1812.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Peyton Randolph, first president of congress, was born at Tazewell Hall, Williamsburg, Va., in 1721; son of Sir John Randolph (1693?1737), king's attorney, speaker of the house of burgesses of Virginia and recorder of Norfolk, and grandson of William Randolph, the immigrant. He was graduated at the College of William and Mary; studied law at the Inner Temple, London, England, and was appointed king's attorney for Virginia in 1748, and the same year represented Williamsburg in the house of burgesses. He went to London in 1754, by direction of the burgesses, without the consent of Governor Dinwiddie, and obtained the removal of the pistole fee from all lands of less than one hundred acres in extent. During his absence the governor suspended the absent attorney, and appointed George Wythe in his place, who, however, accepted the office only to hold it for the return of Randolph, who was reinstated in 1754. He was chairman of the committee appointed to revise the laws of Virginia, and in 1758 was appointed a visitor of the College of William and Mary. He drew up the remonstrances of the burgesses against the proposed stamp act in 1764; was appointed speaker of the house in 1766, and thereupon resigned his office as king's attorney and was placed at the head of all the important committees requiring legal knowledge. He also served as chairman of the committee of correspondence for May, 1773; was president of the convention of August, 1774, and was the first of the seven deputies appointed to the proposed Continental congress by that body. He issued the call to the citizens of Williamsburg to assemble at their courthouse, discuss the action of the convention and instruct the deputies, and presided over the meeting, for this action being named as one of the citizens of Virginia to be attained by Parliament. When the Continental congress assembled in Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1774, he was unanimously elected president of the first congress, which office he held until Oct. 22, 1774, when he resigned and was succeeded by Henry Middleton of South Carolina. On Jun. 20, 1775, he called a convention to meet at Richmond, Va., March 21, 1775, and was elected a delegate to the convention, Feb. 4, 1775. He prevented aggressive measures on the part of the patriots when Lord Dunmore, on April 20, 1775, removed the gunpowder from the public magazine at Williamsburg, and through the medium of his brother, John Randolph (1727?1784), he obtained ?300 from Lord Dunmore to pay for the powder. He met with the house of burgesses in May, 1775, and presided until adjournment, when he returned to Philadelphia, and was elected speaker of the second congress that assembled May 10. Owing to illness he was obliged to resign, and John Hancock assumed the presidency of congress, May 24, 1775. He married a sister of Benjamin Harrison, governor of Virginia, but left no children. His body rests under the chapel of the College of William and Mary. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 22, 1775.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Blair, jurist, was born at Williamsburg, Va., in 1732, son of John Blair, statesman. After graduating from William and Mary college he studied law at the Temple in London, Eng., and upon his return to America commenced practice at Williamsburg. He became a member of the house of burgesses in 1765. On the dissolution of the assembly in 1769, he was one of the patriots who, with Washington, met at the Raleigh tavern and signed the non-importation agreement. He was a member of the committee which, in June, 1776, drew up a code of laws for the government of the state, and upon the establishment of the judiciary became in turn judge of the court of appeals, chief justice, and finally in 1780 judge of the high court of chancery. He was a member of the convention which framed the Federal constitution, voting for its adoption, and subsequently for its ratification by the state convention. In 1789, by appointment of Washington, he became a justice of the United States supreme court and held his seat until 1796, when he resigned. He died at Williamsburg, Va., Aug. 31, 1800.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor