James Patton Preston

James Patton Preston (born June 21, 1774 in Smithfield , Montgomery County , Colony of Virginia , † May 4, 1843 ibid) was an American politician and governor of the state of Virginia from 1816 to 1819 .

Early years and political advancement

James Preston attended the College of William & Mary between 1790 and 1795 . He became a member of the Democratic Republican Party founded by Thomas Jefferson . For that party he was a member of the Virginia Senate for four years and then a member of the State House of Representatives for two years . During the British-American War of 1812 , he was seriously wounded as a lieutenant colonel. After his recovery, he was again a member of the House of Representatives before he was elected by the legislature as the new governor of his state in 1816.

Governor of Virginia and another résumé

James Preston took office on December 11, 1816 and was able to exercise this until December 11, 1819 after two re-elections in 1817 and 1818. During this time, the federal government paid over $ 1.5 million to the state of Virginia as compensation for the war costs of the War of 1812. Preston's predecessor Wilson Cary Nicholas had advocated this repayment . At that time the University of Virginia was founded near Charlottesville , whose first president was Thomas Jefferson. After his tenure, Preston was still a post office owner in Richmond . After that, he retired. He died in 1843. He had three children with his wife, Anne Taylor. James Preston was the brother-in-law of John Floyd and the uncle of James McDowell and John B. Floyd , all of whom were later governors of Virginia.

literature

Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 4, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Preston, James Patton
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	June 21, 1774
PLACE OF BIRTH	Smithfield , Virginia
DATE OF DEATH	May 4, 1843
Place of death	Smithfield , Virginia