Henry, Patrick, his birth, [2];
ancestry and relatives, [2-5];
education, [5], [6];
apprenticed at fifteen to a tradesman, [6];
fails in business with his brother, [6];
marries Sarah Skelton, [7];
established as planter by relative and fails, [7];
again tries store-keeping and fails, [8];
not cast down by embarrassments, [8], [9];
decides to study law, [9];
discussion of his alleged illiteracy, [10-19];
his pronunciation, [10], [11];
habits of self-depreciation, [11], [12];
his teachers, [13], [15];
knowledge of Latin and Greek, [13], [15];
mastery of language, [13];
signs of culture in his letters, [14];
anecdotes illustrating his knowledge of Latin, [16], [17];
his taste for reading, [18];
fondness for history, [19];
liking for Butler’s “Analogy” and the Bible, [20];
his natural qualifications for the law, [21];
studies law, [22];
goes to Williamsburg to be examined, [22];
Jefferson’s stories of his difficulties in passing examination, [23];
his own statement, [24], [25];
[Pg 437] returns to Hanover to practice law, [25];
lives in his father-in-law’s tavern, [26];
not a “barkeeper,” [26];
not dependent on his father-in-law, [27];
stories of his lack of practice, [27];
their falsity shown by record of his numerous cases, [27], [28];
statements by Wirt and Jefferson as to his ignorance, [29], [30];
their impossibility, [31], [32], [34];
proof of technical character of his practice, [32];
his legal genius, [34];
becomes celebrated through “Parsons’ Cause,” [36];
undertakes to defend vestrymen in suit for damages, [46];
insists on acceptance of a jury of common people, [47];
description of his speech by Wirt, [49-52];
its overwhelming effect, [51], [52];
description by Maury, [53], [54];
denies royal authority to annul colonial laws, [54];
apologizes to Maury, [55], [57];
not really an enemy of the clergy, [56], [57];
his geniality, [58];
popularity with the masses in Virginia, [59];
gains great reputation and increased practice, [60];
goes to Williamsburg as counsel in contested election case, [60];
despised by committee on account of appearance, [61];
his speech, [61].
Member of Virginia Legislature.
Elected representative from Louisa County, [62];
attacks in his first speech a project for a corrupt loan office, [64];
introduces resolutions against Stamp Act, [69];
his fiery speeches in their behalf, [72], [73];
after their passage leaves for home, [74];
neglects to preserve records of his career, [77];
the exception his care to record authorship of Virginia resolutions, [78];
leaves a sealed account together with his will, [83], [84], [85];
doubts as to his authorship, [84], [note];
condemned in Virginia by the officials, [86];
denounced by Governor Fauquier, [86];
and by Commissary Robinson, [86], [87];
begins to be known in other colonies, [88];
gains immediate popularity in Virginia, [88], [89];
becomes political leader, [90];
his large law practice, [91], [92];
buys an estate, [91];
his great success in admiralty case, [93];
succeeds to practice of R. C. Nicholas, [93], [94];
evidence of high legal attainments, [94];
leads radical party in politics, [95];
his great activity, [96];
member of Committee of Correspondence, [96];
leads deliberations of Burgesses over Boston Port Bill, [98];
appointed delegate to Continental Congress, [99];
member of convention of county delegates, [100].
Member of Continental Congress.
His journey to Philadelphia, [100], [101];
his oratory heralded by associates, [101];
described by Atkinson, [102];
speaks in favor of committee to settle method of voting, [110];
protests against small colonies having equal vote with large, [111];
urges that old constitutions are abolished, [112];
wishes proportional representation, excluding slaves, [112];
his speech not that of a mere rhetorician, [113], [114];
on committee on colonial trade and manufactures, [114];
opposes Galloway’s plan, [116];
expects war, [116];
wishes non-intercourse postponed, [117];
on committee to prepare address to the king, [117];
his share in its composition, [117], [118];
on committee to declare rights of colonies, [118];
his practical ability not so extraordinary as his oratory, [119];
misrepresented as a mere declaimer, [120];
mythical account by Wirt of an impressive speech, [120-121];
asserted also to be author of rejected draft of address to the king, [122];
and to be cast in the shade by more practical men, [122];
this passage a slander due to Jefferson, [123];
not considered a mere talker by associates, [124];
high tribute to his practical ability by John Adams, [124], [125];
agrees with Adams that war must come, [125];
allusion of his mother to him in 1774, [126];
fame of his speech for arming Virginia militia, [128];
danger of an overestimate, [129];
in Virginia convention offers resolutions to prepare for war, [134];
opposed by his political rivals, [137];
[Pg 438] and by all who dreaded an open rupture, [138], [139];
his speech, [140-145];
description of Henry’s manner by St. George Tucker, [143];
by Randall, [146];
by John Roane, [146-149];
question as to its authenticity, [149-151];
chairman of committee for arming militia, [151];
also on committees on public lands and on encouragement of manufactures, [151], [152];
his possible expectations of a military career, [155];
summary of his military beginnings, [155], [156];
disgusted at failure of militia to resist Governor Dunmore’s seizure of gunpowder, [158];
wishes to emphasize situation by defying governor, [158];
rallies county militia and marches against him, [159];
receives protests from conservatives, [160];
reinforced by thousands, [160];
secures money compensation for gunpowder, [160];
gives receipt for it, [161];
offers to protect colonial treasurer, [161];
rebuffed by him, [162];
denounced in proclamation by Dunmore, [162], [163];
condemned by conservatives, [164];
thanked and applauded by county conventions, [164-166];
returns to Continental Congress, [166];
escorted by volunteer guard, [167];
said by Jefferson to have been insignificant in Congress, [168], [169];
falsity of his assertions, [169], [170];
their lack of probability, [171];
his activity proved by records of Congress, [172-175];
interested in Indian relations, [172];
on committees requiring business intelligence, [172], [173];
commissioner to treat with Indians, [174];
on committee to secure lead and salt, [174];
asks Washington to let a Virginian serve in army for sake of acquiring military training, [175];
returns to Virginia, [176].
Political Leader in Virginia.
Resumes services in Virginia convention, [176];
purchases powder for colony, [176];
thanked by convention, [176];
appointed commander-in-chief of Virginia forces, [177];
his authority limited by convention and Committee of Safety, [177];
organizes troops, [178];
not permitted to lead attack on Dunmore, [180];
ignored by nominal subordinates, [180];
practically superseded by Colonel Howe of North Carolina, [180];
appointed colonel of a Virginia regiment, [181];
resigns, [181];
indignation of his officers and soldiers, [181-182];
persuades soldiers not to mutiny, [183];
again receives an address from officers of his own and other regiments, [183], [184];
his military ability doubted by Committee of Safety, [185];
by Washington and others, [186];
lack of definiteness in criticisms, [186];
real defect seems to have been lack of discipline, [187];
never given a real chance to show his abilities, [188];
saddened by wife’s death, [189];
reëlected to Virginia convention, [190];
his followers oppose Pendleton for president, [191];
serves on all important committees, [192], [193];
presents numerous reports, [193];
eager for independence, [193];
but wishes first a colonial union and a foreign alliance, [194];
letter of Charles Lee to, on the subject, [194-196];
influences convention to instruct delegates to advocate all three things, [197];
advocates colonial union and French alliance in letters to Lee and Adams, [198];
willing to offer free trade, [199];
on committee to draft declaration of rights and plan of government, [200];
leads party advocating a democratic constitution, [201];
complains of lack of assistance, [203];
fears aristocratic tendencies of committee, [203], [204-206];
thanks John Adams for his pamphlet, [205];
hearty letter of Adams in reply, [206], [207];
writes fifteenth and sixteenth articles of Virginia bill of rights, [208];
elected governor of State, [211];
his letter of acceptance, [212-213];
takes oath of office and occupies Dunmore’s palace, [214];
congratulated by his old troops, [214], [215];
by Charles Lee, [215];
by the Baptists of Virginia, [216], [217];
his reply to the latter, [217];
[Pg 439] suffers from illness, [218];
moves family from Hanover to Williamsburg, [219];
seeks to maintain dignity of office, [219], [220];
continues in ill-health but resumes duties of office, [220];
receives letter from Washington advising preparations for defense, [221];
his activity in military preparations, [222];
sneered at by his enemies, [222], [223];
alleged by Jefferson to have planned a “dictatorship,” [223-225];
doubted by Wirt, [226];
real meaning of the term at that time only extraordinary power, [227-229];
authorized by legislature in 1776 to exercise military powers in emergency, [231], [232];
utter baselessness of Jefferson’s charges against, [233];
has continued confidence of Assembly, [234];
reëlected governor, [234];
issues proclamation urging Virginians to volunteer, [235];
labors to keep Virginia troops in field, [236];
sends a secret messenger to Washington for exact information, [236];
explains to Washington the difficulties of raising troops in Virginia, [237], [238];
second letter accepting governorship, [239];
marries Dorothea Dandridge, [241];
his labors in trying to furnish supplies, [241];
great official correspondence, [241], [242];
his aid desired by Conway cabal, [243];
receives an anonymous letter against Washington, [243-245];
sends it to Washington with a warning, [245], [246];
sends second letter assuring him of his confidence, [247];
replies of Washington to, [248-250];
his strong friendship with Washington, [251], [252];
its significance in his later career, [251];
warns R. H. Lee of prejudices against him in Virginia, [252], [253];
despairs of public spirit in Virginia, [254];
urges adherence to French alliance and rejection of North’s peace offers, [255];
twice receives extraordinary powers in 1777, [256];
reëlected to a third term, [256]; his reply, [256];
reports the success of George R. Clark’s expedition, [258-260];
again receives extraordinary powers, [260];
writes to president of Congress concerning military situation, [260-262];
foresees shifting of British attack to Virginia, [262];
reports situation to Washington, [263];
reports Matthews’s raid to Congress, [264-267];
issues a proclamation to warn State, [266];
declines reëlection on ground of unconstitutionality, [268];
complimented by General Assembly, his reply, [268];
his administration sneered at by Tucker, [269];
complimented by Washington, [269], [270];
declines election to Congress, [271];
retires to his estate, Leatherwood, [272];
remains in retirement a year, [272];
writes despondent letter to Jefferson, [273-275];
chosen to General Assembly, [275];
at once assumes leadership, [275];
overwhelmed by committee work, [276];
again in later session, [276-278];
introduces resolutions to console Gates after Camden, [277];
introduces resolution authorizing governor to convene legislature elsewhere in case of invasion, [278];
his flight with legislature from Tarleton’s raid, [281];
ludicrous anecdotes of popular surprise at his flight, [282-284];
said by Jefferson to have been again considered for a dictatorship, [285];
contrary evidence, [286], [287];
his further labors in sessions of 1782, 1783, 1784, [287];
again elected governor, [288];
difficulty of estimating his labors in legislature, [288];
favors rescinding of measures against Tories after war, [289];
his speech in their behalf, [290], [291];
urges economic benefits of their return, [291];
presents bill repealing acts against British goods, [292];
advocates free trade, [292];
wishes to solve Indian problem by encouraging intermarriage, [292], [293];
almost succeeds in carrying bill to that effect, [293];
antagonizes popular opinion in the foregoing projects, and also in religious liberality, [294];
his amazing mastery over the House, [294], [295];
[Pg 440] his appearance in legislature described by Roane, [295-297];
more practical than Madison, [296];
superior to Madison and Lee in debate, [296];
death of his mother, [299];
brings his family from Leatherwood to Salisbury, [299];
his showy style of living, [300];
letter to Washington, [301];
urges him to accept shares in James and Potomac navigation companies, [302];
declines a third term and retires, [302];
publicly thanked by delegates, [302];
resumes practice of law in Prince Edward County, [303];
returns to Assembly until 1790, [303];
continues popular leader, [303].
Opponent of the Federal Constitution.
His relation to the Constitution not understood, [298];
not an extreme advocate of state rights, [303];
an early advocate of a central authority, [304];
supports in the main the policy of strengthening the federal government, [305];
proposes to Madison to “invigorate” the government, [305];
considered by Madison a “champion of the federal cause” until 1787, [306];
learns of Jay’s offer to surrender navigation of Mississippi, [307];
elected a delegate to the federal convention, [309];
refuses, because of the Mississippi scheme, to attend, [310], [311];
anxiety over his refusal, [311], [312];
receives appeal from Washington in behalf of Constitution, [313];
replies stating his disapproval, [313];
fears expressed that he would prevent calling of a state convention, [314];
but considers one necessary, [315];
labors to turn public opinion against the Constitution, [315], [316];
said to favor disunion, [317];
his political methods censured by President Smith, [317];
leads opposition to Constitution in the convention, [320];
his great activity in debate, [321];
great ability of his arguments, [321];
not, in the convention at least, a disunionist, [322], [323];
willing to admit defects in Confederation, [323];
objects that a new Constitution was beyond powers of federal convention, [324];
further holds that state sovereignty is threatened, [324];
objects that the individual is protected by no bill of rights, [325], [326];
dreads implied powers, [327];
criticises the proposed government, [327];
considers the executive dangerous, [328], [329];
fears danger to popular liberties, [329];
wishes to submit matter to a new convention, [330];
failing that, wishes it postponed until a bill of rights be added, [331];
foreseeing defeat, he promises submission to majority, [332];
effectiveness of his eloquence, [333], [334];
his unwillingness to debate regularly, [334];
provokes Randolph into accusing him of unparliamentary behavior, [335];
taunted by Stephen and others as a mere declaimer, [335];
the variety and effectiveness of his arguments, [335], [336];
episode of his speech in the thunder-storm, [336-338];
fears amendments cannot be adopted, [341];
begins a campaign for them, [341], [342];
urges formation of societies to agitate for a bill of rights, [342], [343];
suspected by Madison of purpose to revoke ratification or block action of Congress, [343], [344];
satisfaction produced by his announcement of submission, [344];
enters with zeal into plan for a second convention, [345];
gains complete control of Virginia Assembly, [346];
causes passage of resolutions asking Congress to call a national convention, [346];
threatens to fight government unless amendments are adopted, [347];
condemned bitterly by Federalists, [347];
wishes to control Virginia delegation to Congress, [350];
prevents choice of Madison and dictates election of R. H. Lee and Grayson as senators, [350];
his followers gerrymander the congressional districts, [351];
retires from the legislature, [352];
bitter comments on his action, [353];
fails to prevent election of Madison, [354];
probable effect of his action in leading Congress itself to propose amendments, [355];
[Pg 441] virtual success of his policy, [355], [356].
In Retirement.
Resumes practice of law, [357];
driven to it by debt, [357], [358];
prematurely old at fifty, [358];
in eight years succeeds in gaining wealth enough to retire, [358];
great demand for his services, [359];
his part in the British debts case, [359-367];
associated with Marshall, Campbell, and Innes, [360];
his laborious preparations for the trial, [361];
masters subject completely, [362];
description of his plea before the district court, [363];
description of his second plea in same case, 1793, [364-366];
complimented by Justice Iredell for ability of argument, [366], [367];
his even greater effectiveness in criminal cases, [367];
analysis by Wirt of his methods, [368];
another description of his eloquence by A. Alexander, [369-371];
description by Alexander of his part in a murder case, [371-375];
another murder case described by Roane, [375-378];
also his ability in the comic line, [377];
description of his powers in another murder trial by Conrad Speece, [378-381];
retires permanently in 1794, [382];
lives at Long Island, and eventually settles at Red Hill, [382];
his successful investments, [383];
not rich through dishonorable means as suggested by Jefferson, [383];
his life at Red Hill, [384-395];
happy relations with his family, [384];
calmness of temper, [385];
unruffled by scurrilous attacks, [385], [386];
his advocacy of temperance, [386];
tries to introduce a substitute for wine, [386];
his dislike of tobacco, [387];
his elocutionary manner of directing negroes in the morning, [387];
his ownership of slaves and dislike of slavery, [388];
advocates emancipation, [389];
his hospitality, [389];
his modesty, [390];
tendency to plume himself on wealth, [390];
assists in education of children, [391];
his enjoyment of religious writings and sacred music, [391];
his religious character and habits, [391];
a member of the Episcopal Church, [392];
his anger at being called an infidel, [392];
alarmed at French skepticism, [393];
causes Butler’s “Analogy” and other books to be distributed, [394];
writes a reply to Paine’s “Age of Reason,” but causes it to be destroyed, [394], [395];
inserts an affirmation of his faith in his will, [395];
continues to take interest in current events, [395];
satisfied with the Constitution after the ten amendments, [396];
but finds it hard to approve at once the Federalist government, [397];
dislikes Hamilton’s financial measures, [397];
gradually drawn toward Federalists and away from Jeffersonians, [398];
testimony of Iredell to his liberality, [398];
declines appointment as United States senator, [398];
believes that Washington considers him an enemy, [399];
reconciled to Washington by Henry Lee, [399];
his letter to Lee, [400], [401];
dislikes democratic societies, [401];
offered position as secretary of state, [402];
declines it, [402];
receives from Washington through Lee an offer of chief justiceship, [402], [403];
Washington’s anxiety for his acceptance, [403];
declines it, [404]; considered by Federalists for vice-presidency, [404];
sneered at by Jefferson, [404];
denies that he has changed opinions, [405];
dislikes Jay treaty, but condemns attempt of House to participate in treaty power, [405];
elected governor of Virginia, declines, [406];
asked to express his opinion on political situation in 1799, [408];
believes that Jefferson’s party plans disunion, [409];
alarmed at French Revolution, [409];
especially at infidelity, [410];
compliments Marshall’s bearing in France, and wishes his election to Congress, [410], [411];
urges American national feeling, [410];
declines Adams’s nomination as minister to France, [412];
but expresses his sympathy with him, [412];
appealed to by Washington to come forward against the Democrats, [413], [414];
comes out from retirement as candidate for legislature, [415];
great public interest, [415];
[Pg 442] description of his last speech, [416-419];
dissuades from resistance to the government, [417];
denies the power of a State to decide on federal laws, [418];
urges harmony and use of constitutional means of redress, [418], [419];
his meeting with John Randolph, [420];
elected by a great majority, [420];
returns home, [421];
his last illness and death, [421-423].
Characteristics.
Absence of self-consciousness, [77];
abstemiousness, [386], [387];
audacity, [64], [69], [294];
business inefficiency, [6], [7], [8], [388];
early fondness for the woods, [5], [29], [30];
education, [6], [10], [13-17], [122];
eloquence, [48-52], [61], [64], [72], [93], [98], [115], [128], [140-151], [159], [295], [297], [333-338], [363], [365], [368-381], [418];
friendships, [251], [252], [273], [399];
geniality and kindliness, [57], [58], [117], [220], [277], [332], [385], [398], [399-401];
high spirits, [8], [9], [18], [76];
honor, [245], [251];
indolence in youth, [5], [6], [29];
influence with the people, [59], [60], [88], [89], [102], [160], [164-167], [181-184], [282-284], [316], [346], [415], [420];
keenness and quickness, [21], [33], [34];
legal ability, [24], [25], [29], [33], [92], [93], [94], [359-381];
military ability, [155], [185-188];
modesty, [212], [239];
not a mere declaimer, [98], [113], [119-125], [169], [321];
personal appearance, [220], [296], [300], [364], [416];
political sense, [109], [110], [117], [124], [125], [158], [195], [245], [258], [289-291];
practical ability, [30], [172-175], [192-193], [241], [242], [260-270], [275];
reading habits, [18], [19], [391];
religious views, [20], [56], [126], [208], [218], [389-395], [422], [423];
rusticity in early life, [10], [61];
self-depreciation, [11], [12];
simplicity of manners, [220], [379], [384];
unfriendly views of, [222], [269], [396].
See [Jefferson, Thomas].
Political Opinions.
Amendments to the Constitution, [340-349], [355];
bill of rights, [327];
church establishment, [53], [208-210];
colonial union, [116], [193-199];
Democratic party, [409];
democracy, [201], [204];
disunion, [317], [323], [409];
executive power, [328], [329];
federal Constitution, [313], [323-331], [405], [418];
French alliance, [193-199], [254], [255];
French Revolution, [409];
free trade, [291], [292];
gerrymandering, [351];
independence of colonies, [193 ff.];
Indians, [172], [173], [258], [292], [293];
Jay treaty, [405];
Mississippi navigation, [309-311];
necessity for central authority, [304-306], [322];
not connected with plan for a dictatorship, [224-229], [233], [234], [286], [287];
nullification, [417], [418];
power of crown to annul a colonial law, [53];
power of Parliament over colonies, [69-71], [95];
resistance to England, [125], [140-145];
slavery, [388], [389];
state rights, [323 ff.];
theory that colonies are dissolved by revolution, [111], [112];
Tories, [289-291];
treaty power, [405];
Virginia state Constitution, [201-206].
Henry, Rev. Patrick, uncle of Patrick Henry, helps in his education, [6];
a good classical scholar, [13], [15];
persuaded by Henry not to be present at Parsons’ Cause, [57].
Henry, William, elder brother of Patrick Henry, becomes his partner in trade, [6].