Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/78

 GOVERNORS OF THE STATE

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and Susanna (Smith) Preston. He was a stu- dent at William and Mary Callege, 1790-95. In 1799 he organized an artillery company; in 1802 was elected to the state senate. On March 19, 1812, he was made lieutenant- colonel of the Twelfth United States In- fantry, and for gallantry during the war with Great Britain was promoted to colonel, and assigned to the Twenty-third Regi- ment. In the battle of Chrystlcr's Field, November 11. 1813, he was wounded in the thigh, crippling him for life. He succeeded Wilson Gary Nicholas, as governor, De- cember I, 1816, and served till December i, 1819. During his administration, the law was enacted establishing the University of Virginia. He was afterward postmaster of Richmond for several years. He died at "Smithfield," Montgomery county, May 4, 1843. He married Anne Taylor, sister of General Robert Barraud Taylor, of Norfolk.

Randolph, Thomas Mann» born at *Tuck- ahoe/' Goochland county, October i, 1768, the eldest son of Thomas Mann Randolph and Anne Gary, his wife. He studied first at William and Mary College, and then at the University of Edinbtirgh. where his reading was extensive and varied. On Feb- ruary 23, 1799, young Randolph married Martha, daughter of Thomas JeflFerson, with whom he afterward made his home at **Mon- ticello," and the White House. He served in the senate in 1793 and 1794, and was a member of the United States house of rep- resentatives from 1803 to 1807. During this time a duel with John Randolph of Roanoke, was averted with difficulty. During the war of 1812 he was colonel of the Twentieth United States Infantry. He was governor from December 1. 1819, to December i, 1822.

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He died at '^Monticello," June 20, 1828, the result of exposure, due to his having given away hisicloak to a beggar while riding on the highway. He was a deep student and Jeffer- son characterized him as "a man of science, sense, virtue and competence." His son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, a man of great stature, served frequently in the Virginia house of delegates and edited the papers of his grandfather, Thomas Jefferson. Another son, George Wythe Randolph, was secretary of war of the Confederate States.

Pleasants, James, Jr., was born in Gooch- land county, Virginia, October 24, 1769, son of James Pleasants, and a descendant of John Pleasants, a Quaker, who emigrated from England in 1663. After a thorough school education, he studied law with Judge Fleming and began practice with consider- able success. In 1796 he was elected from Goochland county to the house of delegates, and as a Republican supported the resolu- tions of 1798-99. In 1803 he was chosen clerk of that body, and served until 181 1, when he was elected to the house of repre- sentatives. He supported Madison's policy during the war of 181 2, and became gov- ernor. December i, 1822, which office he held by annual elections until December i, 1825. He was a member of the convention of 1829-30, his last public service; though twice appointed to judicial position, he de- clined acceptance from a distrust of his qualifications. He died November 9, 1836, in Goochland county. He left a distinguished son. John Hampden Pleasants, who attained almost unrivaled success as editor of the Richmond "Whig." His grandson. James Pleasants, son of his son. John Hampden, was a distinguished lawyer of Richmond.

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