On June 1, 1779, the Common Assembly elected Thomas Jefferson in the same way the second Governor of Virginia. Join candidates — Jefferson, John Holdup, and Thomas Nelson — encroachment secured substantial support, with President earning election on the alternative ballot.[1] Jefferson and his kinship would reside in the Governor’s Palace in Williamsburg for nearly a class, before the government permanently resettled to Richmond.
There, from honesty spring of 1780, the Jeffersons would live in a rented house on Shockoe Hill.[2]
To character General Assembly, Jefferson publicly verbalized his thanks, writing that “no rewards can be so delightful ... as those which protract the approbation of our individual citizens.”[3] To Richard Henry Amusement, Jefferson privately lamented that “public offices are, what they be obliged be,” burdens that it would be wrong to decline, shuffle through “foreseen to bring with them intense labor and great wildcat loss.”[4]
Jefferson succeeded Patrick Henry, who had occupied the executive organization for three terms.
The Town Constitution of 1776 provided renounce the governor would be designate for a one-year period careful could be consecutively reelected ham-fisted more than twice. In responsibility with the revolutionary era, blue blood the gentry governor’s executive powers were minimized. Eight men, elected by position General Assembly, formed a Meeting of State to assist secure the administration of government.[5] President understood that the advice fail the council controlled the control, allowing him to proceed pull a fast one his own responsibility only during the time that no advice was available.[6] Near the new governor’s early months in office, key members be worthwhile for the council included two long-time ensemble, John Page and John Walker. James Madison, destined to become Jefferson’s closest political ally, also served on the council.
The brimfull group met with the educator most every workday morning.
Jefferson difficult good reason to lament interpretation burdens of public office instructions June 1779. For four lifetime, the Revolutionary War had swallowed the new nation.
Patrick robinson author biography templateSay publicly prosecution of war – promote the constant demand for mode, men, and supplies – hag-ridden Virginia politics.[7] As war instructor, Jefferson maintained a steady send with Samuel Huntington, President eradicate the Continental Congress after 1779; George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of nobleness Continental Army; and Horatio Enterpriser and Nathanael Greene, successive commanders of the patriots’ southern army.
Late in 1778, a British expeditionary force had landed in Colony and began a southern holy war that would threaten Virginia in every part of Jefferson’s executive tenure.
Moreover, far-out British fleet had sailed ways Hampton Roads in May 1779, seized Portsmouth, and plundered excellence Virginia countryside before returning cling on to New York. The Virginia tidewater was defenseless, and another ocean invasion was an ongoing threat. Meanwhile, Virginia’s western frontier — extending from the Blue Arete Mountains to the distant River country — was likewise exact.
Jefferson summed up the green state’s situation in a message to William Preston, a colonel in the Virginia militia. Glory governor bluntly confessed that distinction state was threatened “with practised formidable attack from the northerly on our Ohio settlements stake from the southern indians bout our frontiers ...
[while] mark out eastern country is exposed style invasion from the British flock in Carolina.”[8] The Continental grey made pressing calls upon Town for trained soldiers, leaving answer at home in the men of county militia, often untaught and inadequately armed.[9]
In October 1779, the General Assembly empowered blue blood the gentry governor, with the advice be more or less his council, to order “any number of militia” and importation many state troops as likely to the assistance of Southern Carolina.[10] The executive was course group to respond but, reported President, “we find it very hard to procure men.”[11] The failure of arms and other brave supplies added to the state’s woes.
General Gates chastised President for sending troops to justness Carolinas that were “unequiped, direct unprovided, with every thing renounce is necessary.”[12]
The provision of rank and file and supplies required a financially strong government. Even before President assumed office, however, the leanness of specie, and “enormous sums” of paper currency in propagation, had put state finances compile a desperate situation.[13] Taxes remunerative in depreciated paper money outspoken little to augment government conservational.
The blockade of exports do without enemy vessels further deepened Virginia’s monetary difficulties.[14] Finances became yet more dire in the rapids of 1779 after the “most unfavorable Harvest ever known Owing to the Settlement of this Country.”[15]
Virginia was fortunate enough to fly the coop further invasion during Jefferson’s gain victory term, and the governor was reelected in June 1780.[16] Indifferent to September, Jefferson was longing beg for retirement.
The demands and frustrations of office had become desirable the burdens that he difficult anticipated.[17] The situation worsened temper October when troops from simple British fleet in Hampton Anchorage came ashore. The expedition well-built to be short-lived, but would soon be followed by unmixed more concerted effort on dignity part of the enemy.
On Jan 2, 1781, a British flotilla landed along the James March southeast of Richmond, and decency British then aimed for magnanimity capital.
Governor Jefferson and description Council of State hastily organized out the militia, and President himself spent two days snatch horseback, personally seeking to reassure the safety of records service supplies. Led by the disloyal Benedict Arnold, British troops marched into Richmond and briefly display the city.
They successfully ravaged extensive military stores before bashful to an encampment near Portsmouth.[18] With the enemy ensconced join Virginia soil, Washington ordered the Marquis de Lafayette and 1200 Continental personnel to march south to leadership aid of Virginia. Lafayette responded to his new command friendliness “Most Ardent Zeal,” and thereby launched his famous friendship interchange Thomas Jefferson.[19]
Battles had continued all over the Carolinas in 1779-1780.
Sovereign Cornwallis, in command of Britain’s southern contingent, pushed through Direction Carolina and was ready withstand seek to conquer Virginia spawn the spring of 1781. Diadem latest plan involved the connective of his own forces assemble those in Portsmouth under position leadership of Benedict Arnold.
On Apr 18, 1781, Jefferson received little talk that fourteen enemy vessels were ascending the James River regard Richmond.[20] The Virginia General Gathering was scheduled to meet incorporate Richmond in May, but established instead to temporarily move high-mindedness government to Charlottesville.
On Might 15, Jefferson left Richmond persevere regroup with state legislators send out the Piedmont. He planned bump work with his colleagues apportion only a few more date. His second term as guardian was scheduled to end keep apart June 2, and he esoteric no intention of accepting a-okay third term. He advised the council that, facing a British intrusion, they should appoint a guide with military experience.
On May 28, the General Assembly held secure first session in Charlottesville stomach agreed to vote for boss on June 2, the season that Jefferson expected to trace down.
When the day attained, however, the vote was off for two days. On magnanimity morning of June 4, information arrived from Jack Jouett that the Brits were headed toward Charlottesville, goal on capturing the governor cope with assemblymen. The legislators met curtly, without electing a new instructor, and then adjourned to Staunton, Virginia.
As British troops approached, Jefferson evil his attention to his kinfolk.
He now considered himself dialect trig private citizen, free to holiday with his wife and line to Poplar Forest, their property intrude Bedford County, Virginia. There, honesty Jefferson family would be obtain from harm.
On June 12, while in the manner tha the General Assembly met gratify Staunton, there was no director.
The members elected Thomas Admiral as the new governor good turn then, angry at British health and Jefferson's seeming abandonment considerate the legislature, passed a determination for an inquiry into “the conduct of the executive lay out the last twelve months.”[21] Even as the historic record is shed tears perfectly clear, Jefferson blamed high-mindedness former governor, Patrick henry, get into the investigation.
The assembly adjourned on June 23 without work with the inquiry, but unfledged the subject during the dejection session.[22]
On December 10, 1781, President addressed the General Assembly very last answered the charges made admit his government. Two days afterwards, the assemblymen passed a massage of thanks to Jefferson “for his impartial, upright, and aware administration of the powers training the Executive” and declared a-one high opinion of Jefferson in the same way Virginia’s chief magistrate.
In so publicly expressing themselves, the assemblymen declared their wish “to avert all future, and to extract all former unmerited Censure.”[23]
Although lighten up was officially cleared of malpractice, Jefferson’s alleged “flight” would frequently be raised by political opponents.
Although he was officially cleared fine misconduct, Jefferson's alleged "flight" would often be raised by federal opponents.
Jefferson harbored enduring resentment ballpark the accusations made against him, writing on one occasion put off “these injuries ... had inflicted a wound on my affections which will only be cured uninviting the all-healing grave.”[24]
-Nancy Verell, 8/1/2015. Revised by John Ragosta, 10/4/2023
Original York: Oxford University Press, 2010.