After purchasing the ship La Victoire and setting a course to America, Lafayette learned his first English phrases during his 54 days at sea. His June, 1777 landfall in South Carolina brought him within several days' ride of his grail: the twin opportunity to exact a pound of flesh from the British, and to satisfy his DNA's demand that he raise his sword before the oppressor of his age.
Congress declined his services when Lafayette presented himself in Philadelphia, but his earnestness, and his assurance that he would serve at his own expense, won him the rank of major general. He quickly fell into the company of George Washington, and the two formed a bond of will and philosophy so strong that Washington came to regard Lafayette as his son, a relationship reciprocated by the young Frenchman.
On a visit to France in 1779, Lafayette won formal French support for the American cause, a diplomatic coup that vivified Revolutionary forces. Lafayette's tactical cunning and fearlessness in battle saved the Revolution many times, but his French connections were played to their greatest advantage at the 1781 Battle of Yorktown. Lafayette cornered Britain's Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown in a triangular trap comprised of French reinforcements to the west, American troops to the east, and the York River to the north. After a siege of several days, Cornwallis capitulated on October 19, 1781. This fatal blow to British forces ensured the American Revolution was all but won.
Congress declined his services when Lafayette presented himself in Philadelphia, but his earnestness, and his assurance that he would serve at his own expense, won him the rank of major general. He quickly fell into the company of George Washington, and the two formed a bond of will and philosophy so strong that Washington came to regard Lafayette as his son, a relationship reciprocated by the young Frenchman.
On a visit to France in 1779, Lafayette won formal French support for the American cause, a diplomatic coup that vivified Revolutionary forces. Lafayette's tactical cunning and fearlessness in battle saved the Revolution many times, but his French connections were played to their greatest advantage at the 1781 Battle of Yorktown. Lafayette cornered Britain's Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown in a triangular trap comprised of French reinforcements to the west, American troops to the east, and the York River to the north. After a siege of several days, Cornwallis capitulated on October 19, 1781. This fatal blow to British forces ensured the American Revolution was all but won.
- Where I got the information ( http://www.history.org/almanack/people/bios/biolafayette.cfm )
In the beginning of the American Revolution, Arnold was an ardent patriot. A high-ranking figure, he distinguished himself as a skilled soldier and strategist. In 1775, he led the attack on Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Later that year, he sustained an injury to his left leg in an assault on the British in Quebec.
Upon recovery, Arnold continued to serve in the North. In August 1777, he helped lift the British siege of Fort Stanwix. He was instrumental in the defeat of General Burgoyne’s army at Saratoga, New York. There, his left leg was re-injured. He would walk with a limp the rest of his life.
General George Washington appointed Arnold as military commander in Philadelphia. It was there that Arnold began his break from the patriots. The Continental Congress had failed to promote him on several occasions, and he came to believe that most representatives were petty, bickering, incompetents.
By 1779, Arnold had grown disillusioned with the patriots. He felt that true liberty could only be secured by rejoining the British Empire, and he began to conspire with loyalists.
Arnold pretended to remain loyal to the patriots, and he kept his command of the American fortifications at West Point, New York. He planned to betray the patriots by allowing the British to win West Point from him in an attack.
Before his plan could be realized, Major General Benedict Arnold learned that his British go-between, Major John Andre, had been captured. He quickly sought refuge with the British army in New York City. Andre was later hanged.
Upon recovery, Arnold continued to serve in the North. In August 1777, he helped lift the British siege of Fort Stanwix. He was instrumental in the defeat of General Burgoyne’s army at Saratoga, New York. There, his left leg was re-injured. He would walk with a limp the rest of his life.
General George Washington appointed Arnold as military commander in Philadelphia. It was there that Arnold began his break from the patriots. The Continental Congress had failed to promote him on several occasions, and he came to believe that most representatives were petty, bickering, incompetents.
By 1779, Arnold had grown disillusioned with the patriots. He felt that true liberty could only be secured by rejoining the British Empire, and he began to conspire with loyalists.
Arnold pretended to remain loyal to the patriots, and he kept his command of the American fortifications at West Point, New York. He planned to betray the patriots by allowing the British to win West Point from him in an attack.
Before his plan could be realized, Major General Benedict Arnold learned that his British go-between, Major John Andre, had been captured. He quickly sought refuge with the British army in New York City. Andre was later hanged.
- Where I got the information ( http://www.history.org/almanack/people/bios/bioarnold.cfm )
Served as George Washington’s aide-de-camp during the French and Indian War. In 1754, he was wounded at Fort Necessity and rose to the rank of captain in the First Virginia Regiment. From 1754-1760, he was lieutenant colonel in William Byrd's Second Virginia Regiment.
He was commissioned by William and Mary to survey the lands of the Ohio River. Mercer represented Frederick County in the House of Burgesses from 1761-1765, but missed the 1763 and 1764 sessions in England as the agent for the Ohio Company.
Under the 1765 Stamp Act, Mercer was appointed stamp distributor for Virginia and Maryland. The hatred with which colonists regarded that legislation was transferred to Mercer himself, and Mercer was burned in effigy at Westmoreland County Courthouse.
In an attempt to control the mounting opposition to the Stamp Act, Mercer surrendered the stamps to a ship’s captain and returned to England where he testified before the House of Commons that the Stamp Act could not be enforced without troops. Undoubtedly, his testimony as an eyewitness to the colonists' reaction to the legislation helped influenced Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act.
In later life, Mercer received various disbursements from the British government, including a pension that supported him first in Paris and later in London. Mercer, a loyal servant to the crown, died in London in 1784 while undergoing treatment for mental illness.
He was commissioned by William and Mary to survey the lands of the Ohio River. Mercer represented Frederick County in the House of Burgesses from 1761-1765, but missed the 1763 and 1764 sessions in England as the agent for the Ohio Company.
Under the 1765 Stamp Act, Mercer was appointed stamp distributor for Virginia and Maryland. The hatred with which colonists regarded that legislation was transferred to Mercer himself, and Mercer was burned in effigy at Westmoreland County Courthouse.
In an attempt to control the mounting opposition to the Stamp Act, Mercer surrendered the stamps to a ship’s captain and returned to England where he testified before the House of Commons that the Stamp Act could not be enforced without troops. Undoubtedly, his testimony as an eyewitness to the colonists' reaction to the legislation helped influenced Parliament to repeal the Stamp Act.
In later life, Mercer received various disbursements from the British government, including a pension that supported him first in Paris and later in London. Mercer, a loyal servant to the crown, died in London in 1784 while undergoing treatment for mental illness.
- Where I got the information ( http://www.history.org/almanack/people/bios/biomer.cfm )
Native diplomacy and tribal emissaries in Williamsburg were constant during the eighteenth century. The Nottoway signed several treaties in the colonial capital and were present for dozens of exchanges between Virginia and the Northern Iroquoians, Cherokee, Catawba and their Siouan-speaking allies. In one instance, Tom Step and other Nottoway headmen lead a treaty delegation to confront Cherokee ambassadors in Williamsburg. The August 16th, 1751 edition of the Virginia Gazette recounts the Nottoway-Cherokee heated discourse, wampum presentation, and ceremonial pipe smoking on the steps of Williamsburg’s courthouse. The peace bonds that Step and other Nottoway made with the Cherokee encouraged their later united participation in the French & Indian War.
As allies to the British Crown, Tom Step led the Nottoway to Williamsburg “to renew their ancient League with their brothers the Cherokees, which was done in the Market Place, by smoking the Pipe, &c. after which the Cherokee Warrior made a long speech, desiring the Nottoways to go immediately to the Assistance of their Brothers the English.” In April of 1756, Step and fifteen other Nottoway joined the Cherokee warriors, following Isle of Wight’s Lt. James Baker to assist Lt. Colonel George Washington in Winchester.
During the War, Tom Step was referred to as “Captain Tom,” leading war parties against the French and their Indian allies in the disputed territory of western Pennsylvania and Maryland. The summer of 1756 was particularly difficult on the forward garrisons – supplies and dwindling recruitments left much to be desired.
Lt. Governor Robert Dinwiddie and Lt. Colonel Washington encouraged the Cherokee, Catawba, and Tuscarora to join Virginia and the Nottoway against the French; Washington believed their service was worth “more than twice their number of white men” in the woodland warfare of the frontier. In August, Washington sent Capt. Tom Step with wampum and a speech to formally invite the Tuscarora and other tributary Indians to join the Virginia ranks. Capt. Tom persevered, recruiting upwards of seventy Nottoway, Tuscarora, and Meherrin warriors.
Eventually joined by Catawba and more Cherokee, Step and the Nottoway fought “against the French, faithfully and honestly, until the reduction of Fort Du Quesne...and did behave themselves with great Bravery during the...campaign...” Near the conclusion of the hostilities, Washington and the House of Burgesses singled out “Tom Step, who distinguished himself very remarkably in the Action…” The House ordered “...that the Treasurer be desired to purchase a Silver Gorget and suit of Clothes, [to] be presented to Captain Thomas Step, one of the Nottoway Indians, as a mark of distinction, and as reward for his brave and gallant behavior during the last campaign.”
As allies to the British Crown, Tom Step led the Nottoway to Williamsburg “to renew their ancient League with their brothers the Cherokees, which was done in the Market Place, by smoking the Pipe, &c. after which the Cherokee Warrior made a long speech, desiring the Nottoways to go immediately to the Assistance of their Brothers the English.” In April of 1756, Step and fifteen other Nottoway joined the Cherokee warriors, following Isle of Wight’s Lt. James Baker to assist Lt. Colonel George Washington in Winchester.
During the War, Tom Step was referred to as “Captain Tom,” leading war parties against the French and their Indian allies in the disputed territory of western Pennsylvania and Maryland. The summer of 1756 was particularly difficult on the forward garrisons – supplies and dwindling recruitments left much to be desired.
Lt. Governor Robert Dinwiddie and Lt. Colonel Washington encouraged the Cherokee, Catawba, and Tuscarora to join Virginia and the Nottoway against the French; Washington believed their service was worth “more than twice their number of white men” in the woodland warfare of the frontier. In August, Washington sent Capt. Tom Step with wampum and a speech to formally invite the Tuscarora and other tributary Indians to join the Virginia ranks. Capt. Tom persevered, recruiting upwards of seventy Nottoway, Tuscarora, and Meherrin warriors.
Eventually joined by Catawba and more Cherokee, Step and the Nottoway fought “against the French, faithfully and honestly, until the reduction of Fort Du Quesne...and did behave themselves with great Bravery during the...campaign...” Near the conclusion of the hostilities, Washington and the House of Burgesses singled out “Tom Step, who distinguished himself very remarkably in the Action…” The House ordered “...that the Treasurer be desired to purchase a Silver Gorget and suit of Clothes, [to] be presented to Captain Thomas Step, one of the Nottoway Indians, as a mark of distinction, and as reward for his brave and gallant behavior during the last campaign.”
- Where I got the information ( http://www.history.org/almanack/people/bios/biostep.cfm )
In 1774, Thomas Jefferson retired from his law practice and turned his clients over to Edmund Randolph. Edmund practiced law until his death, although he did so only part-time while he held public office.
The only evidence about the tension that must have existed between Edmund and his father, John, as the colonies moved to war with Great Britain is a letter from Benjamin Harrison to General George Washington written July 21, 1775. In this letter, Harrison reported that Edmund was seeking support for his effort to become an aide to General Washington. Harrison noted that Edmund made his decision to join the army at Boston without consulting anyone and that he did so because he feared "his father's conduct may tend to lesson him in the esteem of his countrymen." By joining the American army, Edmund may have felt that his loyalty to the colonial cause would not be questioned. His father's reaction to Edmund's act is summed up in a line from a letter he wrote to his son in August 1775: "For God's Sake, return to your Family & indeed to yourself."
Edmund Randolph served in the following positions:
The only evidence about the tension that must have existed between Edmund and his father, John, as the colonies moved to war with Great Britain is a letter from Benjamin Harrison to General George Washington written July 21, 1775. In this letter, Harrison reported that Edmund was seeking support for his effort to become an aide to General Washington. Harrison noted that Edmund made his decision to join the army at Boston without consulting anyone and that he did so because he feared "his father's conduct may tend to lesson him in the esteem of his countrymen." By joining the American army, Edmund may have felt that his loyalty to the colonial cause would not be questioned. His father's reaction to Edmund's act is summed up in a line from a letter he wrote to his son in August 1775: "For God's Sake, return to your Family & indeed to yourself."
Edmund Randolph served in the following positions:
- Clerk of the Committee on Courts and Justice, House of Burgesses, May 1774
- Deputy Muster Master General of the Continental Army, Southern District, 1775 – 1776 (he was appointed to this position by the Continental Congress. He had to resign when he was elected to the Virginia Convention.)
- Aide-de-camp to General Washington, August – November 1775
- Delegate (representing Williamsburg) to the Fifth Virginia Convention, 1776
- Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1776-1786
- Mayor of Williamsburg, 1776 – 1777; Justice of the Peace for James City County, 1777
- Clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1778 – 1779
- Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1779, 1781 –1786
- Governor of Virginia, 1786 – 1788
- Delegate to the Constitutional Convention, 1787
- Delegate to the Virginia Ratification Convention, 1788
- United States Attorney General, 1789 – 1794
- United States Secretary of State, 1794 – 1795