Peyton Randolph
BIRTH
Sep 10, 1721
Williamsburg, Virginia
DEATH
October 22, 1775
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
President of the Continental Congress
Sep 5, 1774 - Oct 22, 1774
President of the Continental Congress
May 10, 1775 - May 24, 1775
Delegate to the Continental Congress (VA)
FAMILY
FATHER:
John Randolph Sr
(1693-1737)
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Randolph, Peyton
(1721-1775)
Peyton Randolph was an American politician and planter who was a Founding Father of the United States. Born into Virginia's wealthiest and most powerful family, Randolph served as speaker of Virginia's House of Burgesses, president of the first two Virginia Conventions, and president of the First Continental Congress. He also served briefly as president of the Second Continental Congress.
HOMES:
MUSEUM
Peyton Randolph House
100 W Nicholson St, Williamsburg, VA 23185
GRAVE:
MUSEUM
William & Mary Wren Building
Wren Bldg, 111 Jamestown Rd, Williamsburg, VA 23185
13
BROTHER
John Randolph
(1727-1784)
WIFE
Elizabeth Harrison
(1723-1783)
Places | Image | Address | GPS | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
George Washington's Mount Vernon | 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mt Vernon, VA 22121 | MUSEUM | ||
Colonial Williamsburg | 101 Visitor Center Dr, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Virginia Capitol Building | E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Charlton's Coffeehouse | 429 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Carpenters Hall | 320 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106 | MUSEUM | ||
Bruton Parish Church | 201 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Williamsburg Magazine | 103 E Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
Peyton Randolph House | 100 W Nicholson St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 | MUSEUM | ||
St John's Church | 2401 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23223 | MUSEUM | ||
Rosewell Plantation | Old Rosewell Lane, Rosewell, Virginia, 23184, USA | MARKER | ||
Carters Grove | 8797 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, VA | MARKER | ||
St John's Church Marker | 2401 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23223 | MARKER | ||
Mattoax Marker | 4501 River Rd, Petersburg, VA 23803 | MARKER |
DIED:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 22, 1775
Randolph was born in Tazewell Hall, his family's estate in Williamsburg, Virginia. His father was Sir John Randolph, and his brother was John Randolph. Peyton Randolph was 15 when his father died. He attended the College of William & Mary and later studied law at Middle Temple at the Inns of Court in London, becoming a member of the bar in 1743. A lifelong resident of Williamsburg, the colony's capital, Randolph was to follow in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, all of whom served as speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses.
Virginia selected Randolph as one of its delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774 and 1775. Fellow delegates elected him their president (speaker) of both the First Continental Congress (which requested that King George III repeal the Coercive Acts and passed the Continental Association) as well as Second Continental Congress (which extended the Olive Branch Petition as a final attempt at reconciliation).
However, Randolph fell ill during each term. Henry Middleton of South Carolina succeeded him as president from his resignation on October 22, 1774, two days after presiding over the passage and signing of the Continental Association, until his return on May 10, 1775. He was again elected president of Congress, but Randolph left for Virginia four days later and was succeeded as president by John Hancock.