Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/54

 FATHERS OF THE REVOLUTION

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Cornwallis, and received the thanks of Washington in general orders. He retired from the office of governor, November 30, 1 781, whereupon he was accused of mal- administration for assuming dictatorial 1 owers during the perilous term of admin- istration. He was exonerated by the state legislature. He spent the remainder of his life in retirement and poverty, his fortune having been expended for his country, and no recompense was ever made by the gov- ernment to his family. His grave at York- town. Virginia, was not marked, but his statue was placed in the group on the Wash- ington Monument at Richmond. He died at "Offley," Hanover county, January -j, 1789.

Nelson, William (q. v., i-70).

Nicholas, Robert Carter, born in 171 5, in Hanover county. Virginia, was a son of Dr. George Nicholas and Elizabeth Carter, his wife, daughter of Hon. Robert Carter, pres- ident of the Virginia council (q..v.). He graduated from William and Mary College, and embraced the law. In 1756 he entered the house of burgesses for York county, continuing a member until the house of dele- gates was organized (1776), and was a member of that body until 1779. Though conservative in his views, he was nobly pa- triotic. He supported the Stamp Act reso- lutions of 1764, but opposed those of 1765 offered by Patrick Henry, deeming them premature. He was treasurer of the colony from 1 766- 1 777, succeeding John Robinson. In 1773 he was a member of the committee of correspondence ; a member of all the revo- lutionary conventions, and on the resigna- tion of Peyton Randolph, president pro tern. of that of July. 1775. While he opposed

Patrick Henry's proposition to organize the militia in March, 1775, he submitted as an alternative a motion to raise 10,000 regulars to serve throughout the war. When the news of the action of parliament, in 1774, laying an embargo on Boston, reached Vir- ginia, he offered a resolution to set apart June I, 1774, as a day of fasting and prayer, which was agreed to. While he opposed the resolution of May 15, 1776, in favor of in- structing Congress for declaring independ- ence, he refrained from voting that the ac- tion of the convention might go out with the prestige of unanimity. January 14, 1778, he was appointed one of the chancellors of the state, but he did not live long. He died at his seat in Hanover county, Virginia, in 1780. He married Anne Cary. daughter of Colonel Wilson Miles Cary. and was father ol Governor Wilson Cary Nicholas (q. v.).

Page, John, was born at "Rosewell," Glou- cester county, Virginia, April 17, 1744, son of Mann and Mary Mason (Selden) Page. He was graduated from the College of Wil- liam and Mary in 1763, and was married, about 1765. to Frances Burwell, daughter of Robert Burwell, Esq., of the council. He was a member of the house of burgesses, of the Colonial council, and the committee of safety ; a delegate to the state constitutional convention of July, 1776; lieutenant-gov- ernor; a representative in the ist-4th Con- gresses, 1789-97; a Jefferson elector in 1801. and governor, from 1802 to 1805, succeeding James Monroe. Being constitutionally in- eligible for re-election in 1805. he was suc- ceeded by William H. Cabell. He was United States commissioner of loans for Virginia, by appointment of President Jeff- erson, 1805-08: and a visitor to the College

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