Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/197

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152


VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY


He was proposed to President Washington as a candidate for the office of secretary of state, but was objected to by Alexander Hamilton, who afterward became his friend and for whom Pendleton acted as second in his duel with Aaron Burr. He was a delegate from Georgia to the Federal con- stitutional convention in 1787, but was not present when the constitution of the United States was signed. He was a member of the Virginia Society of the Cincinnati. In 1796 he settled in practice in New York City, where he married his second wife, Susan, daughter of Dr. John Bard. He be- came judge of Dutchess county, residing on a farm at Hyde Park, New York, where he dic'd October 20, 182 1.

Bccklcy, John James, born in 1757, son of Sir William Beckley (or Bickly), baronet, who died in Louisa county, Virginia, March 9, 1771. Grigsby says he was a classmate of Fox, at Eton. In 1779 he was clerk of the state senate, and in 1781 he was elected clerk of the house of delegates, which posi- tion he held for many years. He was clerk of the convention of 1788; of the United States house of representatives from 1789 to 1799, and from 1801 to 1807. He was also first librarian of congress from 1802 to 1807, being the only person who ever held the two offices of clerk and librarian. He died in Washington City, April 8, 1807, in his fiftieth year.

Hammond, Samuel, born in Richmond county, Virginia, September 21, 1757; later settled in Savannah, Georgia, and was ap- pointed surveyor-general of that state, was also elected to the legislature, fought in the Creek war of 1793, and was elected to con- gress, on the Democratic ticket, serving


from October 17, 1803, until March 3, 1805; was appointed by President Jefferson mili- tary and civil commandant of Upper Louisi- ana, serving in that capacity from 1805 until 1824, and during the latter part of the time was receiver of public moneys in Missouri ; in 1824 he returned to the South, locating in South Carolina, receiving appointment as a member of the legislature, as surveyor- general, in 1825, and as secretary of state, being appointed in 1831 and serving until 1835, 5" which year he retired from public life: he was also a soldier, volunteering in an expedition against the Indians under Governor Dunmore, distinguishing himself ai the battle of the Kanawha; in 1775 he raised a cpmpany and took part in the battle of Longbridge, and four years later par- ticipated in the battle of Stono Ferry, South Carolina, under Gen. Lincoln; at the siege of Savannah he was appointed assistant quartermaster, and at Blackstocks he had three horses shot under him and was wound- ed; he was a member of the "council of capitulation" at Charleston, and was pres- ent at the siege of Augusta and the battles of Kings Mountain, Cowpens, Eutaw Springs, where he was again badly wound- ed, and many other engagements; he was commissioned colonel of cavalry, September 17, T781, and served under Gen. Greene until the end of the war; his death occurred near Augusta, Georgia, September 11, 1842.

Lacy, Drury, born in Chesterfield county, Virginia, October 5, 1758, son of Willium and Elizabeth (Rice) Lacy, grandson of Thomas and Ann (Burnley) Lacy, and of James and Margaret (House) Rice; in early life he lost his left hand from the explosion of a gun, therefore was incapacitated from


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