Jefferson and his Governorship of Virginia

"...in times like these, public offices are, what they should be, burthens to those appointed to them which it would be wrong to decline, though foreseen to bring with them intense labor and great private loss."

- Thomas Jefferson, 1779

Wartime Governor ... Legislation ... The British Invasion

Wartime Governor

Thomas Jefferson as Governor of Virginia In this recorded livestream, first person interpreter Bill Barker describes Thomas Jefferson's controversial service as wartime Governor of Virginia.

Two Tumultuous Terms Explore the Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia article on Governor Jefferson's time in office.

Legislation

"...our whole code must be reviewed, adapted to our republican form of government..."

-Thomas Jefferson

The Committee of Revisors Jefferson chaired the Committee that proposed 126 bills in 1779. He was very proud of the enactment of new inheritance laws ending primogeniture and entail. His Statute for Religious Freedom wasn't passed until 1786 when Jefferson was in Paris.

Bill 64 Jefferson was the main author of Bill 64, whose purpose was to revise the criminal code, make punishment more proportionate to the crimes, and impose capital punishment only for treason or murder. The measure was defeated by a single vote in the General Assembly.

The College of William and Mary Under Governor Jefferson’s leadership, the Board of Visitors of The College of William & Mary adopted resolutions that incorporated many of his changes to the curriculum and governance of his Alma Mater.

The British Invasion

"British horse came to Monticello."

-Thomas Jefferson, June 4, 1781

Jefferson was harshly criticized for his performance as Virginia's wartime Governor, and he was nearly captured by British cavalry.

Flight From Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War In this recorded livestream, Michael Kranish, award-wining journalist and author of "Flight from Monticello," takes questions about Jefferson's governorship during the Revolutionary War.

Jack Jouett's Ride John "Jack" Jouett, Jr. rode all night to foil British plans to capture Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson and members of the Virginia Assembly. His exploits earned him the sobriquet "The Paul Revere of the South."

Livestream: The British Invasion In this livestream recording, Thomas Jefferson, interpreted by Bill Barker, describes his escape from the British attempt to capture him at Monticello in June,1781.