X-Nico

unusual facts about House of Burgesses



Christopher Reynolds

Christopher Reynolds was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and progenitor of R. J. Reynolds.

Northumberland County, Virginia

The following year, John Mottrom served as the first burgess for the territory in the House of Burgesses, which met at the capital of the Virginia Colony at Jamestown.

Paper knife

American politician Patrick Henry is famous for making a speech before the Virginia House of Burgesses on March 23, 1775, stating the famous words "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" After this, he pretended to plunge a letter opener into his chest.

Second Continental Congress

Within two weeks, Randolph was summoned back to Virginia to preside over the House of Burgesses; he was replaced in the Virginia delegation by Thomas Jefferson, who arrived several weeks later.

Smith's Hundred

The first House of Burgesses in 1619 included two representatives for Smythe's Hundred Plantation: Captain Thomas Graves and Walter Shelley.


see also

John Crittenden

John Crittenden, Sr. (1754–1809), veteran of the American Revolutionary War and member of the Virginia House of Burgesses

John Randolph

Sir John Randolph (1693–1737), Virginia colonial politician, Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses

Richard Bland

His grandfather Theodorick Bland of Westover served as Speaker of the 1660 House of Burgesses session and, in this role, presided over the House during the transition from the Cromwell Protectorate to the restored government of Charles II.

Stephen Trigg

These were five political meetings that started after Lord Dunmore, the governor of Virginia, had dissolved the House of Burgesses after its delegates expressed solidarity with Boston, Massachusetts, where the harbor had been closed by the British.