17 Facts About Peyton Randolph

Peyton Randolph was an American politician and planter who was a Founding Father of the United States.

Peyton Randolph served briefly as president of the Second Continental Congress.

In 1774, Peyton Randolph signed the Continental Association, a trade boycott adopted by the First Continental Congress in response to the British Parliament's Intolerable Acts.

Peyton Randolph was born in Tazewell Hall, his family's estate in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Peyton Randolph's parents were Sir John Randolph, the son of William Randolph, and Susanna Beverley, the daughter of Peter Beverley.

In 1748, Peyton Randolph was appointed attorney general of the Colony of Virginia and the same year was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses, where he would serve for the remainder of his life.

The House selected Peyton Randolph to represent their cause to Crown authorities in London.

Peyton Randolph left for London, over the objections of Governor Dinwiddie, and was replaced for a short time as attorney general by George Wythe.

Peyton Randolph resumed his post on his return at the behest of Wythe as well as officials in London, who recommended the governor drop the new fee.

In 1765, Peyton Randolph found himself at odds with a freshman burgess, Patrick Henry, over the colony's response to the Stamp Act.

Henry's proposals were approved at a meeting of the House in which most of the members were absent and while Peyton Randolph was presiding in the absence of the speaker.

Peyton Randolph resigned as king's attorney in 1766, as fellow Burgesses elected him as their speaker upon the death of his relative, the powerful Speaker John Robinson.

Peyton Randolph chaired meetings of the first of five Virginia Conventions of former House members, principally at a Williamsburg tavern, which worked toward responses to the unwelcome tax measures imposed by the British government.

Peyton Randolph, who was a delegate to the Continental Congress, returned to Williamsburg to take his place as Speaker.

Peyton Randolph indicated that the resolution had not been sent to the Congress.

Peyton Randolph was thus the last speaker of the House of Burgesses.

Peyton Randolph was again elected president of Congress, but Randolph left for Virginia four days later and was succeeded as president by John Hancock.