what did attorney general randolph do?

by Evelyn Yost 6 min read

Randolph had handled much of President Washington's personal legal work, and Washington appointed him as the first Attorney General of the United States in 1789 and then as Secretary of State in 1794. After leaving government service, Randolph represented Aaron Burr during Burr's 1807 trial for treason.

What did Edmund Randolph do as Attorney General?

Jul 07, 2017 · Randolph was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a member of the Constitutional Convention. He was elected attorney general of Virginia in 1776, served until 1782 and served as Governor of Virginia from 1786-1788. On September 26, 1789, Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General of the United States by President Washington. In 1794 he …

What did John Randolph do in the Constitutional Convention?

Whereas his father reacted to the American Revolution by returning to Great Britain, Randolph served as an adviser to General George Washington in 1775. Randolph entered politics and continually gained higher offices. He helped draft the Constitution in 1787 and began drafting the legal code for his home state of Virginia. Randolph had handled much of President …

What did James Randolph do in 1786?

Randolph managed the settlement of the Citizen Genêt Affair. He prompted a resumption of talks with Spain and assisted in the negotiations of the 1795 Treaty of San Lorenzo, which opened the Mississippi River to U.S. navigation and fixed the boundaries between Spanish possessions and the United States.

Who is Edmund Randolph?

Attorney General Edmund Randolph Randolph , Edmund statesman, born in Williamsburg, Virginia, 10 August, 1753; died in Clarke county, Virginia, 13 September, 1813. He was distinguished for scholarship and eloquence at William and Mary College, and at eighteen years of age was orator to commemorate the royal founders, the oration being printed by the faculty.

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What did Edmund Randolph do as attorney general? Randolph was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a member of the Constitutional Convention. He was elected attorney general of Virginia in 1776, served until 1782 and served as Governor of Virginia from 1786-1788.

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What did Edmund Randolph do as Attorney General?

He did not remain in the House of Delegates for long, because in 1789 Washington appointed him as the nation's first Attorney General. Randolph was tasked with essentially defining the country's justice system. In 1794, he replaced Jefferson as Secretary of State.

What proposal did Edmund Randolph make and what was his argument for it?

On May 29, 1787, Virginia delegate Edmund Randolph proposed what became known as "The Virginia Plan." Written primarily by fellow Virginian James Madison, the plan traced the broad outlines of what would become the U.S. Constitution: a national government consisting of three branches with checks and balances to prevent ...

What did Jennings Randolph do?

Jennings Randolph (March 8, 1902 – May 8, 1998) was an American politician from West Virginia. A Democrat, he was most notable for his service in the United States House of Representatives from 1933 to 1947 and the United States Senate from 1958 to 1985.

What did Edmund Randolph believe in?

Randolph was a strong advocate of the process of amendment. He feared that if the Constitution were submitted for ratification without leaving the states the opportunity to amend it, the document might be rejected and thus close off any hope of another plan of union.

Who was Attorney General for George Washington?

Randolph had handled much of President Washington's personal legal work, and Washington appointed him as the first Attorney General of the United States in 1789 and then as Secretary of State in 1794.

Who proposed the Great Compromise?

Roger ShermanTheir so-called Great Compromise (or Connecticut Compromise in honor of its architects, Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth) provided a dual system of congressional representation.

What party was Jay Rockefeller?

Democratic PartyJay Rockefeller / PartyThe Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States. It was founded in 1828 by supporters of Andrew Jackson, making it the world's oldest active political party. Since the 1860s, its main political rival has been the Republican Party. Wikipedia

Was Edmund Randolph ever a president?

Edmund Jennings Randolph (August 10, 1753 – September 12, 1813) was an American attorney and politician....Edmund RandolphIn office January 2, 1794 – August 20, 1795PresidentGeorge WashingtonPreceded byThomas JeffersonSucceeded byTimothy Pickering22 more rows

Was Edmund Randolph a federalist?

It is clear from this position that Randolph was a supporter of ratification, perhaps even unconditional ratification if it came to that, but he was a reluctant Federalist.

What was James Madison role?

James Madison, America's fourth President (1809-1817), made a major contribution to the ratification of the Constitution by writing The Federalist Papers, along with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. In later years, he was referred to as the “Father of the Constitution.”

Was Patrick Henry an anti-federalist?

Patrick Henry was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first governor of Virginia. ... An outspoken Anti-Federalist, Henry opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, which he felt put too much power in the hands of a national government.Mar 18, 2021

Was George Mason an anti-federalist?

Along with James Madison, he is called the "Father of the United States Bill of Rights.” Anti-federalist Mason was a leader of those who pressed for the addition of explicit States rights and individual rights to the U.S. Constitution as a balance to the increased federal powers, and did not sign the document in part ...

What was Randolph's most famous case?

His most famous case was defending Aaron Burr at his trial for treason in 1807.

Where was Randolph born?

Randolph was born on August 10, 1753 to the influential Randolph family in Williamsburg in the Colony of Virginia. He was educated at the College of William and Mary. After graduation he began reading law with his father John Randolph and uncle, Peyton Randolph. In 1775, with the start of the American Revolution, ...

Who was the 7th governor of Virginia?

Signature. Edmund Jennings Randolph (August 10, 1753 – September 12, 1813) was an American attorney and politician. He was the 7th Governor of Virginia, and, as a delegate from Virginia, he attended the Constitutional Convention and helped to create the national constitution while serving on its Committee of Detail.

Who painted Alexander Hamilton?

Alexander Hamilton, and Edmund Randolph look on (far right). Painting by John Henry Hintermeister , 1925. The following year, as a delegate from Virginia to the Constitutional Convention, at 34, Randolph introduced the Virginia Plan as an outline for a new national government.

Introduction

Edmund Jennings Randolph succeeded Thomas Jefferson as Secretary of State on January 2, 1794. Like Jefferson, Randolph resigned from office.

Rise to Prominence

Randolph was born into a leading Virginia family. He graduated from the College of William & Mary, studied law with his father John and his Uncle Peyton, joined the Virginia bar, and began practicing law in Williamsburg.

Influence on U.S. Diplomacy

As Secretary of State, Randolph faced many of the same challenges that his predecessor, Thomas Jefferson, had attempted to address. Randolph managed the settlement of the Citizen Genêt Affair.

What is an encyclopedia editor?

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. ...

What was Randolph's role in the Constitution?

He was elected to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1776 and served on the committee that drew up a bill of rights and a state constitution. The Virginia Assembly elected him attorney general of the state, and he also served intermittently (1779–82) as a delegate to the Continental Congress. In 1786 Randolph headed the Virginia delegation ...

What was the Jay Treaty?

He also paved the way for the signing (1795) of Pinckney’s Treaty (or the Treaty of San Lorenzo) with Spain, which provided for free navigation of the Mississippi River.

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Overview

Political career

Randolph was selected as one of 11 delegates to represent Virginia at the Continental Congress in 1779 and served as a delegate until 1782. He also remained in private law practice, handling numerous legal issues for Washington and others.
Randolph was elected as Governor of Virginia in 1786. That year, he was a del…

Early life

Randolph was born on August 10, 1753 to the influential Randolph family in Williamsburg in the Colony of Virginia. He was educated at the College of William and Mary. After graduation he began reading law with his father John Randolph and uncle, Peyton Randolph. In 1775, with the start of the American Revolution, Randolph's father remained a Loyalist and returned to Britain. Edmund Randolph returned to America where he joined the Continental Army as an aide-de-camp to General George …

Romance and married life with Elizabeth Nicholas

Miss Nicholas was daughter of the Hon. Robert Carter Nicholas, State Treasurer. Randolph wrote to his children after his wife's death:
"We were both born in the city of Williamsburg, within twelve hours of each other; myself on the 10th of August 1753, and she on the 11th. My aunt Randolph, who saw each of us soon after our birth, facetiously foretold that we should be united in marriage-a circumstance which, improbabl…

Resignation

A scandal involving an intercepted French message led to Randolph's resignation as Secretary of State in August 1795. Randolph had been tasked with maintaining friendly relations with France. The British Navyhad intercepted correspondence from the French minister Joseph Fauchet to his superiors and turned it over to Washington, who was dismayed that the letters reflected contempt for the United States and that Randolph had been primarily responsible. The letters implied that …

Later life

After leaving the federal cabinet, Randolph returned to Virginia to practice law, where he was a leader of the state bar. His most famous case was defending Aaron Burr at his trial for treason in 1807.
In 1791, Randolph was elected to the American Philosophical Society.

Death and legacy

Randolph lived his final years as a guest of his friend Nathaniel Burwell at Carter Hall, near Millwood, Virginia, in Clarke County. He suffered from paralysis in his final years and died at 60 on September 12, 1813. He is buried nearby at the Burwell family cemetery adjacent to "Old Chapel."
Randolph County, West Virginia was formed in 1787 and named in Randolph's honor. Randolph County, Illinoiswas also named after him. Randolph, who was the governor of Virginia when the …

Sources

• Reardon, John J. (1975). Edmund Randolph: a biography. Macmillan. ISBN 978-0026012003. Retrieved May 25, 2011. Edmund Randolph.
• Randolph, Edmund (1855) [1795]. A Vindication of Edmund Randolph (new ed.). Richmond: Charles H. Wynne, printer. Retrieved May 25, 2011. Edmund Randolph. written by himself, with a preface by P.V. Daniel, Jr.