46
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
a ted from William and Mary College, 1771,
and was a visitor, 1784; member of general
assembly during the revolutionar>' war, and
an ardent patriot. In 1787 he was chosen
president of the executive council of Vir-
ginia, and on December i, 1788, succeeded
Edmund Randolph as governor for one year.
Every governor was eligible for three years,
but in 1790 Benjamin Harrison was nomi-
nated for the office against Mr. Randolph,
who had served but two years. Harrison
rejected his candidacy and Randolph was
ag^in reelected. His administration was
notable with respect to Indian depredations
and the relations of Virginia to Pennsyl-
vania, fie died in February, 1797, at his
home. "Green Creek,** Cumberland county.
Lee, Henry, governor, December i, 1791- December i. 1794 (q. v.).
Brooke, Robert, born in Virginia, 1751, son of Richard Brooke, and grandson of Robert Brooke, a skilled surveyor, who was one of Governor Spotswood's knights of the horseshoe. He was educated at Edinburgh University, and on returning home at the beginning of the revolution was captured by Howe, British admiral, and sent back to England, whence he went to Scotland, then to France, and reached Virginia in a French vessel carrying arms for the continentals. He joined Captain Larkin Smith's company of cavalry, was captured near Richmond by Simcoe in 1781. was exchanged, and re- joined the army. In 1794 he represented Spotsylvania county in the house of dele- gates, and on December i, of the same year, was elected governor and served two years. He was a Republican, and in 1798 was elected attorney-general of the state, over Bushrod Washington, nephew of General
Washington. He was grand master of
Masons in \'irginia, 1795-97. He died in
1799, while still attorney-general, aged only
thirty-eight years. The county of Brooke,
tormed from Ohio county, now in West
Virginia, was named in his honor.
Wood, James, born in Frederick county, in 1750, son of Colonel James Wood, founder of \\'inchester. In 1775 ^^ ^^'^^ ^ burgess from Frederick county, and in lypy a member of the Virginia convention, which appointed him colonel of the Eighth \'irginia Regiment. He behaved gallantlv at the battle of Brandywine; and at Kur- goyne's surrender was put in charge of the priv-orcrs at Charlottesville. In 1781 he v.-as supcrini*^«Kicnt of prisoners of war in \'ir- ginia. and used his own means for their in- terest. He was president of the last board of officers that arranged for the \*irginia line. In ,1783. as brigadier-general of state troops, he served efficiently during the Indian troubles. Elected to the executive council in 1784. by. seniority he became lieutenant- p)vernor. He was governor, from Decem- ber I. 1796, to December i, 1799; and the Richmond armory was erected under his administration. He was in the legislature twelve years, and in the executive council twenty years, and died while so serving, June 16, 1813. He was president of the Society of the Cincinnati from October 9, 1784. until his death. His wife, who was Jean, daughter of Rev. John Moncure, was long remembered for her poetic composi- tions and charitable works.
Monroe, James, governor, December i. 1799-December I, 1802 (q. v.).
Page, John, governor. December i. 1802- December i, 1805 (q.^v.).
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