5th Generation: Edmund Jennings Randolph

Edmund Jennings Randolph
Source: Frick Art Reference Library

Born: August 10, 1753
Married:
Died: September 12, 1813 in Clarke County
Burial: Will:

Parents: John Randolph Randolph II and Ariana Jennings

Children:

When the American Revolution started, Edmund Randolph and his father took separate paths. His father was John Randolph II, Attorney General for the colony. John Randolph II stayed loyal to King George III and became known as "John the Tory."

Edmund Randolph was an aide to General George Washington during the siege of Boston, then returned to Virginia after his uncle Peyton Randolph died in order to settle his estate. Because he was back in Virginia in 1776, Edmund Randolph was able to serve in the Fifth Convention that declared Virginia to be independent and crafted the new state's first constitution. He was elected by the General Assembly to become the first Attorney General for the state, a bookend to his father being the last Attorney General for the colony.

In 1786, the General Assembly elected Edmund Randolph as governor. He was elected again in 1787 to serve another one-year term, but resigned that position in 1788 so he could be elected to the House of Delegates. He saw more opportunity to shape Virginia's new legal code as a delegate than as governor. The 1776 constitution, written during a rebellion against the authority of King George III, gave little power to the executive and ensured the state's legislature would be dominant.

When Washington became the first president of the United States, he appointed Edmund Randloph as the country's first Attorney General. Later, Randolph replaced Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State in Washington's cabinet. He resigned in 1795, after being accused of accepting a bribe from the French in order to support them rather than Great Britain during disputes over Jay's Treaty.

In 1807, Randolph was a lawyer for Aaron Burr during his trial in Richmond. Burr was aquitted of the charges of treason.¹

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