The New Student's Reference Work/Randolph, John

Randolph, John, of Roanoke, was born at Cawsons, Va., June 2, 1773. He was a second cousin of Edmund Randolph, and boasted Pocahontas, the Indian princess, among his ancestors In 1799, though only 26, he entered Congress and continued a member, with the exception of two terms, until 1825, when he was chosen United States senator and occupied a seat for two years, during which he fought a duel with Henry Clay. In 1830 he was appointed minister to Russia, but returned home next year, and in 1832 was once more elected to Congress. Before taking his seat, however, he died of consumption at Philadelphia, June 24, 1833, having provided in his will for the freedom of his slaves, some 300 in number. During Randolph's long public career he was distinguished alike for wit, loquence and eccentricity, and was more talked and written about than any public man of his time: many of his sallies and pungent utterances are still quoted.