Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/131

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

both fired, and Mason fell dead. This was at Bladensburg, Maryland, February 6, 1819.

Eppes» John Wayles, son of Colonel Fran- cis Eppes and Elizabeth Wayles, his wife, daughter of John Wayles. was born in Chesterfield county. \'irginia. and attained prominence in his profession in Richmond, \ irginia. In 1803 he was elected as a Re- publican to Congress, and served until March 3. 181 1, and from May 24, 1813, to March 2, 181 5. He was an able supporter of the administration of James Madison. Two years later he became a member of the United States senate, but resigned in 1819 on account of ill health. He retired to his estate in Buckingham county, where the remaining years of his life were spent. He married (first) Maria, daughter of Presi- dent Thomas Jefferson, and (second) Mar- tha, daughter of Willie Jones, member of Congress from North Carolina. His death occurred September 20, 1823.

Pleasants, James (q. v.).

Tazewell, Littleton Waller (q. v.).

Randolph, John, was born at "Cawsons," Prince George county, Virginia, June 2, I773i son of Richard, of "Curies,*' and Fran- ces (Bland) Randolph, grandson of Richard Randolph (1691-1748), great-grandson of Colonel William, the immigrant, and Mary (Isham) Randolph, of Turkey Island. Wil- liam Randolph, the immigrant, came from Warwickshire, England, in 1674. John Ran- dolph was instructed by his mother and stepfather ; attended Walker Maury's school in Orange county; the grammar school of the same teacher in Williamsburg; the Col- lege of New Jersey, i'787-88 ; Columbia Col-

lege, 1788-89; was present in New York, April 30, 1789. at the inauguration of Presi- dent Washington, and studied law with his second cousin, Edmund Randolph, in Phila- delphia, also attending lectures on antomy and physiology. In 1795 he returned to Vir- ginia and made his home at "Bizarre," the family mansion occupied hy his brother Richard, and where Richard died in 1796. He thus became the head of the household, but does not appear to have practiced law except to the extent of defending in the Federal courts his rights to the portion of the Randolph estate. He opposed Patrick Henry as a candidate for representative in the Sixth Congress, but was defeated. When Henry died, June 6. 1799, without taking his seat. Randolph was elected and was a representative from \'irginia in the Sixth to Twelfth Congresses, 1799-18 13, serving as chairman of the committee on ways and means and being a leader of the Republicans. He favored the reduction of the army and spoke of the men making it up as "mercenaries and hirelings," which resulted in his being insulted and jostled by two marine officers at the theatre. In a note addressed to the President, asking for pro- tection against such insults, he addressed him as ** President of the United States," and signed himself "With respect, your fel- low-citizen, John Randolph." President Adams presented the note to the house for its consideration as "a breach of representa- tive privilege." A deadlock resulted, and the question was undecided. Randolph was a powerful orator, and opposed every public wrong, the Yazoo fraud being passed in his absence. He defended Jefferson in the purchase of Louisiana; and advocated an embargo, but soon changed his opinion

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