John Randolph (politician)

Sir John Randolph (1693 – March 7, 1737)[1] was an American politician. He was a Speaker of the House of Burgesses, an Attorney General for the Colony of Virginia, and the youngest son of William Randolph and Mary Isham.[1]

Sir John Randolph
31st Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses
In office 1734–1736
Preceded by	John Holloway
Succeeded by	John Robinson
Personal details
Born	c. 1693 Tazewell Hall/Turkey Island, Williamsburg, Virginia
Died	March 15, 1737 Williamsburg, Virginia
Resting place	Wren Building (Crypt) at the College of William and Mary
Spouse(s)	Lady Susanna Beverley
Children	4, including Peyton and John
Parents	William Randolph Mary Isham
Residence	Tazewell Hall
Alma mater	College of William and Mary
Occupation	Politician

Biography and family

Randolph was born in Charles City County, Virginia.[1] He attended the College of William & Mary and completed his studies in 1711.[1] Randolph later reflected, "I should have been an atheist if it had not been for one recollection—and that was the memory of the time when my departed mother used to take my little hand in hers and cause me on my knees to say, 'Our Father who art in heaven.'"[2] In 1712, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Alexander Spotswood, appointed Randolph as Deputy Attorney General for Charles City County, Prince George County, and Henrico County.[1] On May 17, 1715, Randolph was admitted to Gray's Inn at the Inns of Court, then called to the bar on November 25, 1717.[1]

Randolph was the only native of Colonial Virginia to receive a knighthood.

Randolph married Susanna Beverley (the daughter of Peter Beverley, a Speaker of the House of Burgesses and Treasurer of Virginia, and Elizabeth Peyton, and sister of Elizabeth Beverley, the wife of his brother William Randolph II) around 1718 and the couple had at least four children who reached adulthood:[3]

• Beverley Randolph
• Peyton Randolph
• John Randolph
• Mary Randolph

He died in 1737 and was interred at the chapel of the Wren Building at the College of William & Mary.[1] His will had been witnessed in 1735 by Charles Bridges.[4]

Randolph was a grand-uncle of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.

Ancestors of John Randolph (politician)

16. Robert Randolph 8. William Randolph 17. Rosa Roberts 4. Richard Randolph 18. Richard Lane 9. Dorothy Lane 19. Elizabeth Vincent 2. William Randolph 20. John Rilande 10. Richard Ryland 21. Maria Canning 5. Elizabeth Ryland 11. Elizabeth Harward 1. Sir John Randolph 24. Sir Euseby Isham 12. William Isham 25. Anne Borlase 6. Henry Isham 26. William Brett 13. Mary Brett 27. Mary Toddington 3. Mary Isham 28. Christopher Banks 14. Christopher Banks 29. Alice Foxe 7. Catherine Banks 30. John Royall 15. Janet Royall 31. Angeline

See also

• First Families of Virginia
• Randolph family of Virginia

References

1. "Sir John Randolph". Williamsburg, Virginia: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
2. p. 176 of African-American Orators: A Bio-critical Sourcebook, by Richard W. Leeman, 1996.
3. Page, Richard Channing Moore (1893). "Randolph Family". Genealogy of the Page Family in Virginia (2 ed.). New York: Press of the Publishers Printing Co. pp. 249–272.
4. "Bridges, Charles (bap. 1672–1747)". encyclopediavirginia.org. Retrieved 21 March 2015.

External links

• John Randolph at Find a Grave