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  • Full Name: Edmund Randolph
  • Served: 1778 - 1779
  • Bio Information: Born at his father’s home, later known as “Tazewell Hall," Williamsburg, Va., August 10, 1753, Died at “Carter Hall,” Frederick (now Clarke) County, Va., September 13, 1813. Buried at Old Chapel graveyard near Millwood, Clarke County, Va. Edmund Randolph was the son of John and Arianna (Jennings) Randolph. His father, John Randolph (the Tory), was the Attorney General of the Colony. He was a lawyer, graduating from the College of William and Mary. In 1775 he served as aide de camp to George Washington. He was Clerk of the House of Delegates at the age of 25, until the May session of 1779. He was a member of the Constitutional Conventions of 1776 and 1788; Attorney General of Virginia, 1776-86; member of the Continental Congress, 1779-83; Governor of Virginia, 1786-88; Commissioner to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 to revise the Federal Constitution; member of the House of Delegates, 1788-89; the first Attorney General of the United States, 1790-94; and Secretary of State, 1794-95. He was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, A. F. & A. M., 1786-89. He served as Mayor of Williamsburg and was appointed one of the judges of the Court of Admiralty. He was counsel for Aaron Burr in his trial for treason. He married, August 29, 1776, Elizabeth Nicholas, daughter of Robert Carter and Anne (Cary) Nicholas of James City County. Portrait, copy by F. J. Fisher of an original now lost, acquired by the Commonwealth in 1874, in the State Capitol at Richmond. While he was Clerk of the House, the Speaker was BENJAMIN HARRISON.

*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.

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