Occasions rendered them important services. She saved the life of Capt. John Smith in 1607, and two years afterward revealed the plot of the Indians to exterminate the colonists. In 1612 she was seized by Capt. Argal and detained for the purpose of obtaining favorable terms of her father. While with the English she received the offer of marriage from Thomas Rolfe, an Englishman of good character, which was accepted with the consent of her father. By this event peace was restored, which continued for many years. In 1616 she accompanied her husband to England, and was received with much attention at court. She remained in England about a year, when she sickened and died at Gravesend, as she was on the point of embarking for America. Lady Rebecca (as Pocahontas was called in England) left an only son, from whom some of the most distinguished families in Virginia trace their descent.

Capt. John Smith, the principal founder of Virginia, was born in Lincolnshire, England. He was early distinguished for his daring spirit and love of adventure. He left home at the age of fifteen, and went to France and the Netherlands. For two years he studied military tactics, and then traveled to seek adventures. On a voyage from Marseilles to Naples the Roman Catholic sailors, believing the young English heretic to be a Jonah, threw him into the sea to calm a tempest by which they were overtaken. He swam to the shore and proceeded to Alexandria, and finally to Austria, where he entered the imperial service in the war against the Turks. At the siege of Ragall he killed three Turkish champions in succession. He was afterward taken prisoner, but escaped to Russia, and from thence returned to Austria, where he embarked with a French captain for Morocco. At the Ca naries he was engaged in a sea-fight with the Spaniards, and then returned to his native country. His restless spirit led him to seek for adventures in the New World. Here, after the exercise of much valor and the endurance of many hardships, he planted the Virginia colony on a firm basis, and then returned to England. He died in London in 1631, at the age of 72.

George Washington, commander-in chief of the American armies during the rev olutionary war, and first President of the United States, was born in Westmoreland

2

D Sir Yr Mo affect & Obed

august 1762 Washington

county, on the 22d (11th O. S.) of February, 1732. He received but few advanta ges in his early school education. Having acquired some knowledge of mathemat Ics he became a practical surveyor. His military abilities were first made use of by Governor Dinwiddie, in 1753. In 1789 he was unanimously elected the first President of the United States. Having firmly resolved to return to private life Washington published, in Sept., 1796, his "Farewell Address to the People of the United States." On Friday, Dec. 13th, 1799, while attending to some improvements on his estate, he was exposed to a slight rain; in consequence he was seized the same night with an inflammatory affection of the wind-pipe, which was soon after followed by a fever. He gradually sunk until Saturday night, at half past eleven, on Dec. 14th, when he expired without a struggle, in the 68th year of his age.

Peyton Randolph, first President of the American Congress, and a descendant of Pocahontas, was born in Virginia in 1723, and sent to England for education. In 1756, when 33 years of age, he was made king's attorney for Virginia. In 1766 he was speaker of the house of burgesses. "He was elected a delegate to the first continental congress, which assembled in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, on the 5th of September, 1774. Charles Thompson recorded on that day: "The congress proceeded to the choice of a president, when the Hon. Peyton Randolph, Esq., was unanimously elected." This vote made him really the first President of the United

States, for then and there our Union had its birth." He was again chosen president when another congress met at the same place in May following, but feeble health compelled him to resign the office, fourteen days afterward, when John Hancock was chosen to fill his place. Mr. Randolph resumed his seat in congress early the following autumn; and on the 22d of October, 1775, he died at Philadelphia, from the effects of apoplexy, in the 53d year of his age.'

Carter Braxton, a signer of the declaration of independence, was born at New

Carter Braxton

ington, King and Queen's county. He was one of the wealthiest men in his native county. In December, 1775, he was chosen a delegate to the continental con

gress, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Peyton Randolph. He died Oct. 10, 1797, in the 61st year of his age.

Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the declaration of independence, was born at Berkeley, on James River. His personal merits, joined to his wealth and family

Bery "Harrison
Волу

connections, gave him great influence. He filled several important stations in the state and in congress. He died of gout in the stomach, two

days after his re-election as governor in April, 1791. He married in early life a relative of Mrs. Washington. They had a numerous offspring, seven of whom lived to a mature age. One of the number was the late President of the United States, William Henry Harrison.

Richard Henry Lee, a signer of the declaration of independence, was born in Westmoreland county, Jan. 20, 1732, near the time and place of Washington's

Rickard Henry Lee

birth. He was educated in England; returned to Virginia at the age of 19, and ap plied himself

to literary pursuits. He was elected to the house of burgesses at the age of twentyfive. When in congress, Mr. Lee, was one of the "committee of correspondence,' appointed in 1788. He was able to obtain important information of the movements of the British Parliament by frequent letters from his brother Arthur Lee, a distinguished literary character in London, and an associate with the leading men of the realm. On the 7th of June, 1776, Mr. Lee introduced the important resolution declaring the colonies free and independent. He continued in public life until his bodily infirmities compelled him to retire. He died in 1794, in his 64th

year. Thomas Nelson, Jr., a signer of the declaration of independence, was born at Yorktown, Dec., 1738. As was the custom of the times with the wealthy families

The Nelson pr

of Virginia and the Carolinas, young Nelson was sent to England to be educated. He returned to America in 1761. He was a delegate to the continental congress until 1777, when, seized with an alarming illness, he was obliged to resign his seat. In 1781 Virginia became the theater of important warlike operations, when Mr. Nelson, having been elected governor, acted both as governor and as commander-in-chief of the militia of the state. By great exertions and personal expense he was able to keep the militia together until the capture of Cornwallis. Soon after this event he resigned his office and retired to private life. He died Jan. 4, 1789.

Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the declaration of independence, was born in Westmoreland county, in 1734. His father dying when he was of an early age,

he was placed under the care of Dr. Craig, a Scotch

Francis Lightfoot Lee
Lee clergyman of piety and

learning. Having caught the spirit of his brother Richard Henry Lee, he was sent a delegate to the

continental congress, in which body he continued until 1779, when he retired in a great measure from public life. He died in 1797, in the 63d year of his age.

George Wythe, a signer of the declaration of independence, was born in Elizabeth county. Being left with a large fortune and the control of his own actions,

George Wythe

at the age of twenty-one he left study and sought only his own personal gratification. He continued this course for about ten years, when a sudden change was wrought in all his conduct,

and he ever afterward pursued a course of virtue and usefulness. He filled various public offices, and notwithstanding the constant demand upon his time, he taught a private school free to those who chose to attend it. Among other pupils was his negro boy, whom he taught Latin, and was preparing to give him a thorough education when both he and the boy died, it is supposed by poison introduced into their food by a near relative of Mr. Wythe. He died June 8, 1800, in the 81st year of his age.

Henry Lee, the eminent cavalry officer of the revolution, was born in Virginia in 1756, and was educated at Princeton. He entered the army in 1776, when his skill in discipline soon attracted the notice of Washington. He was commander of the celebrated Lee's Legion which performed such gallant service in the army of the south under Greene. From 1791 to 1794 he was governor of Virginia. He was appointed by Washington commander of the forces to suppress the Whisky insurrection. In 1799 he was a member of congress, and was selected by that body to deliver an eulogy on the death of Washington, on which occasion he originated and applied to the character of that great man that never to be forgotten sentence -"First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." His "Memoirs of the War in the South" is a work of much merit. He died in 1818, in consequence of injuries received some years previously from a mob in Balti

more.

Patrick Henry, a celebrated patriot and orator, was born in Hanover county, May 20, 1736. His education was obtained at a common school, and he rose to dis

May 1886 Pitlerrry)

tinction by the superiority of his genius. In 1765 he was elected to the house of bur

gesses, and by some resolutions he in

troduced in reference to the stamp act he obtained the honor of being the first in commencing the opposition to the measures of the British government which terminated in the revolution. In 1774 he was elected a member of the continental congress. On the retreat of Lord Dunmore, in 1776, he was appointed the first republican governor of Virginia, and was afterward repeatedly re-elected to that office. He retired from the bar in 1794, and died June 6, 1799. Mr. Henry was a sincere Christian. In his will he left the following testimony respecting the Christian religion: "I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one thing,

and that is the Christian religion. If they have that and I had not given them one shilling they would be rich, and if they have not that and I had given them the whole world they would be poor."

George Mason, a distinguished statesman of Virginia, was born in 1725. Mr. Jefferson said that he was "of the first order of wisdom among those who acted on the theater of the revolution, of expansive mind, profound judgment, cogent in argument, learned in the lore of our former constitution, and earnest for the republican change on democratic principles. His eloquence was neither flowing nor smooth, but his language was strong, his manner most impressive, and strengthened by a dash of biting criticism when provocation made it seasonable." Mr. Mason was the framer of the constitution of Virginia, and a member of the convention which formed the federal constitution, but he refused to sign that instrument. In conjunction with Patrick Henry, he opposed its adoption by the Virginia convention, on the ground that the government of the states would be consolidated instead of federal, and be liable to conversion into a monarchy. He also opposed with great zeal the section allowing a continuance of the slave trade. He died in 1792, aged

67 years.

James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, was born in Westmoreland county, April 28, 1758. He graduated at William and Mary College, and having entered the American army as a cadet in 1776 he was soon after appointed a lieutenant. He was at the battles of Harlaem Hights,

White Plains and Trenton, at which latter place he was wounded. He was aid to Lord Stirling in the campaigns of 1777 and 1778, and was at Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. After the war, Monroe filled various offices both in the state and national governments. In 1817 he was chosen successor to James Madison in the presidency. In 1821 he was unanimously elected, with the exception of one vote. During the latter period of his life he was associated with the ex-presidents Jefferson and Madison in founding the University of Virginia. He resided at Oak Hill, Loudon county, 9 miles south of Leesburg. Mr. Monroe died in New York, July 4, 1831, on the anniversary of American independence, like the ex-presidents Jefferson and Adams. The building shown on the right in the engraving is of brick, and was built by him when president. That on the left is a plain wood structure, and was occupied by him prior to his inauguration.

John Marshall, Chief Justice of the United States, was born at a locality called Germantown, in Fauquier county, 9 miles below Warrenton. His father, Col. Thomas Marshall, was an able officer in the revolution. His son John was the eldest of fifteen children. The limited means of Col. Marshall compelled him to be almost exclusively the teacher of his children, and to his instructions the chief justice said "he owed the solid foundation of all his success in life." By the assistance of his father, and the persevering efforts of his own mind, he continued to enlarge his knowledge, while he strengthened his body by hardy, athletic exercises in the open air. These exercises were continued to a late period of his life. At the age of twenty-one he was commissioned as lieutenant in the continental service; in 1777 he was appointed captain, and in that capacity served in the battles of Brandy

wine, Germantown and Monmouth. He was also with the army during their sufferings at Valley Forge in the winter of 1778. Having given some attention to the study of law, he, after the conclusion of the revolutionary war, commenced its practice, and soon arose to distinction. In 1800 he was appointed secretary of state, and in 1801 chief justice of the United States, in which office he continued until his death. His residence was in Richmond. He was distinguished for extreme plainness of person and dress, and a childlike simplicity of manners.

Chief Justice Marshall died at Philadelphia, July 6, 1835, in his 80th year. "The love of simplicity and dislike of ostentation which had marked his life displayed itself also in his last days. Apprehensive that his remains might be encumbered with the vain pomp of a costly monument, and a laudatory epitaph, he, only two days before his death, directed the common grave of himself and his consort, to be indicated by a plain stone, with this simple and modest inscription:"

JOHN MARSHALL, son of THOMAS and MARY MARSHALL, was born on the 24th of September, 1775; intermarried with MARY WILLIS AMBLER the 3d of January, 1783; departed this life the day of 18-.

This unostentatious inscription, with the blanks only filled, is carved on the plain white marble monument erected over his remains, in the grave-yard at Shoccoe Hill, Richmond.

William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States, was born at Berkeley, on James River, below Richmond, Feb. 9, 1773. His ancestors settled in Virginia in 1640, and the family name was always among the most prominent in her history. He was educated at Hampden-Sidney College, and turned his attention to medicine. The hostilities of the Indians on the north-western frontier having begun to excite attention, young Harrison relinquished his professional studies and joined the army for the defense of the Ohio frontier.

He died April 4, 1841, just a month after his inauguration to the presidency.

Henry Clay was born in Hanover county, April 12, 1777. His father was a Baptist clergyman, in poor circumstances, and lived in a farm-house in a poor, piney region called the "Slashes of Hanover.' At the age of fourteen he was placed in a store in Richmond; this was soon left, and he was employed as an amanuensis in the office of Chancellor Wythe, and some others. He was honored with his friendship, and through his assistance obtained a knowledge of law. In Nov., 1797 he removed to Lexington, Kentucky, where he soon rose to distinction.

A beautiful statue of marble of Henry Clay by Hart, the Kentucky sculp tor, was inaugurated at Richmond on the 12th of April, 1860. It is an excellent likeness of the great statesman in the act of making a public address. The idea of erecting this statute originated, in 1844, with Mrs. Lucy Bar