Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/38

 RANDOLPH

RANDOLPH

Manor, Cecil county, Maryland; son of Samuel and Anna (Stuyvesant) Bayard, born in Holland, who came to New York with his uncle, Peter Stuyvesant, in 1647. He was graduated from the University of Virginia. A.B.. A.M., 18'J2; was instructor of matlieniatics in the university, 1890-95; professor of mathematics in the Uni- versity of Arkansas, 1895-97, and in 1897 was elected president of the College of Charleston, wliich position he still lield in 1903. He received the lionorary degree of LL.D. from Washington and Lee university. Lexington. Va.. in 1899.

RANDOLPH, James Fitz, representative, was born in:Middlest4X county. N.J. . June 26,1791; a descendant of Edwanl Fitz Randolph, who emigrated to America from England in 1630. He received a common school education, served as apprentice in a printing office, and was one of the editors of the New Brunswick weekly Fredonia, 1812-42. He was U.S. collector of in- ternal revenue, 1815—46; clerk of the court of common pleas for Middlesex count}-, and a rep- resentative in the state legislature for two years. He was a Democratic representative in the 20th, 21st and 22d congresses, 1828-33, having been elected in 1828 to fill a vacancy caused by the death of George Holcombe (q.v.). He died in Jersey City. N. J.. March 19, 1871.

RANDOLPH, John, statesman, was born in Cawsuns. Va.. June 2, 1773; son of Ricliard of Curies, and Frances (Bland) Randolph; grand- son of Richard Randolph (1691-1748); great-grand- s<m of Col. William, the immigrant, and Mary (Isham) Randolph of Turkey Island. William Randolph, the immigrant, came from Warwick- shire. England, to Virginia in 1674. Richard Randolph of Curies died in 1775, and Frances (Bland) Randolph married secondly in 1788, St. George Tucker (q.v.). John Randolph was in- structed by his mother and stepfather; attended Walker Murray's school in Orange county; the grammar school of the College of William and Mary; the College of New Jersey, 1787-88; Colum- bia college, 1788-89; was present in New York, April 30. 1789. at the inauguration of President Washington, and studied law with his second cou- sin. Edmund Randolph (q.v.) in Philadelphia, also attending lectures on anatomy and physiology. In 1795 he returned to Virginia and made his home at " Bizarre," the family laansion occupied by his brother Richard, and where Richard died in 1790. He thus became the head of the house- hold, but does not appear to have practised law except to the extent of defending in the Federal courts his rights to his portion of the Randolph estate. He opposed Patrick Henry as a candi- date for representative in the 6th congress, but was defeated. When Henry died. June 6, 1799. without taking his seat, Randolph was elected

and was a representative from Virginia in the 6th-12th congresses, 1799-1813, serving as chair- man of the committee on ways and means and being a leader of the Republican party in the house. He favored the reduction of the army and spoke of the men making it up as •merce- naries and hirelings," which resulted in his being insulted and jostled b\' two marine officers at the theatre. In a note addressed to the President asking for protection against such insults, he ad- dressed him as " President of the United States" and signed himself "With re.spect, your fellow- citizen, John Randolph." President Adams pre- sented the note to the house for its consideration as " a breach of representative privilege." A deadlock resulted and the question was left un- decided. Randolph was a powerful orator, and opposed every public wrong, the Yazoo fraud being passed in his absence. He defended Jeffer- son in the purchase of Louisiana, on constitutional grounds; and advocated an embargo, but soon discovering his error, admitted his mistake and voted against the measure. He favored James Monroe as presidential candidate to succeed Mr. Jefferson in 1808, and opposed the war of 1812 and the policy of President Madison, which made an enemy of Monroe who had been chosen secre- tary of state. This cost him his re-election to congress in 1812, and he retired to Roanoke. He was, however, returned as a representative in the 14th, 16th, 17th and 18th congresses, lsi.j-17 and 1819-25, and became the founder of a powerful state rights party, and an ultra Anglomaniac. He hated slavery and his duty to his creilitors was the only bar to the liberation of the slaves owned by him, during his lifetime. He opposed the Missouri compromi.se, and likewise the doc- trines of Calhoun, for whom he had no respect. In December. 1824, he was elected to the United States senate to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Barbour, and completed his term, March 3, 1827. While in the senate Clay challenged him for the use of offensive language in a speech, and a duel followed. April 8, 1826, in which neither was hurt. He failed to be re-elected to the U.S. senate. He was a member of the state constitutional committee of 1829, and as a reward for his support of Jack- son for the presidency in 1828. he was ai)pointed U.S. minister to Russia in 1830. but resigned in 1831 and returned to the United States. He di.sagreed with the President on the question of nullification in 1832, which doctrines lie had at first opposed. In 1833 he made preparations for a second visit to Europe for the benefit of his health, seriously threatened by consumption, but only lived to reach Philadelphia. He was declared of unsound mind when he made his last will, executed in 1832, and a former will made in 1821,