what was edmund randolph's job as attorney general

by Janessa Johnson 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.

Why did Washington choose Edmund Randolph as his 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.

What did Zebulon Randolph do as Attorney General?

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 …

Who was Edmund Randolph and what did he do?

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 John Randolph do in the Constitutional Convention?

What was Edmund Randolph’s job as attorney general? 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.

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What was Edmund Randolph job in the Cabinet?

On September 26, 1789, Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General of the United States by President Washington. In 1794 he was appointed Secretary of State. He served in this position until 1795.Jul 7, 2017

What did Edmund Randolph do for a living?

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.

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.

Did Edmund Jennings Randolph own slaves?

Attorney General Edmund Randolph's slaves had obtained their freedom under the 1780 law, and Randolph was advising Washington (through Lear's letters) on how to prevent the eight from similarly obtaining theirs. ... In the 1790s, slavery was legal in most of the Northern states, as well as all of the Southern states.

Was George Washington friends with Edmund Randolph?

Randolph's friendship with Washington continued, and soon Randolph was handling Washington's personal legal affairs. Randolph's political career began in 1776 when he served in the Virginia Constitutional Convention. He helped draft a BILL OF RIGHTS and a state constitution.

What did William Paterson do?

He helped write the 1776 Constitution of New Jersey and served as the New Jersey Attorney General from 1776 to 1783. He represented New Jersey at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, where he proposed the New Jersey Plan, which would have provided for equal representation among the states in Congress.

What was Edmund Randolph role at the Constitutional Convention?

As a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention (1787), he presented the influential Virginia Plan and served on the Committee on Detail that prepared a first draft of the proposed constitution. He did not sign the final draft, however, because he wanted more protection of the rights of states and of individuals.

What was Edmund Randolph political views?

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.

What was Edmund Randolph accused of when he was secretary of state?

treasonous corruptionOn 19 August 1795 George Washington ambushed Secretary of State Edmund Randolph in an impromptu tribunal to face the allegation of treasonous corruption in the service of France with evidence covertly provided by Great Britain.

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

How old was Edmund Randolph when he died?

60 years (1753–1813)Edmund Randolph / Age at death

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.”

What did Roger Sherman do?

As a delegate to the Second Continental Congress at Philadelphia, he signed the Declaration of Independence (1776) and helped draft the Articles of Confederation. From 1777 to 1779 he served on Connecticut's council of safety, and in 1784 he was elected mayor of New Haven.

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.

What did Henry Knox do as secretary of war?

Later, Knox became Secretary of War under President Washington. In this capacity, he developed a plan for a national militia, setting a precedent that guided the new nation's military training for more than a century and a half.

What did William Paterson propose?

William Paterson's New Jersey Plan proposed a unicameral (one-house) legislature with equal votes of states and an executive elected by a national legislature. This plan maintained the form of government under the Articles of Confederation while adding powers to raise revenue and regulate commerce and foreign affairs.

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.

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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.