WV Biographies

Alexander Spottswood

Alexander Spottswood
Expedition of Governor Spottswood over the Blue Ridge. —Alexander Spottswood was one of the most distinguished individuals that controlled the destiny of Colonial Virginia. Hardy pioneers had extended civilization over the eastern part of the Colony, but of the region to the westward, nothing was known; the time was now come when white men should penetrate the vast wilderness and return to tell the story of its wonderful resources. Governor Spottswood equipped a party of thirty horsemen, and, heading it in person, left Williamsburg, then the capital of Virginia, on June 20th, 1716.

Alexander Spottswood, who led the party, was born in 1676, at Tangier, then an English Colony, in Africa, his father being the resident surgeon. He was a thoroughly trained soldier, serving on the Continent under the Duke of Marlborough. He was dangerously wounded at the battle of Blenheim, in 1704, when serving as quartermaster-general, with the rank of Colonel. He arrived in Virginia in 1710, as Lieutenant-Governor under George Hamilton, the Earl of Orkney, and his administration was the most able of all the Colonial rulers.
He, in connection with Robert Carry of England, established the first iron furnace in North America. In 1730, he was made Deputy Postmaster-General for the American Colonies, and it was he who promoted Benjamin Franklin to the position of Postmaster for the province of Pennsylvania. He rose to the rank of Major-General and, when on the eve of embarking with troops destined for Carthagena, died at Annapolis, Maryland, June 7th, 1740. He owned the house in which Lord Cornwallis afterward signed the articles of capitulation at Yorktown.

Lady Spottswood

Lady Spottswood, who became the wife of Governor Alexander Spottswood, in 1724, was Anne Butler, daughter of Richard Brayne, of Westminster, England. She derived her middle name from James Butler, Duke of Ormond, her god-father.

There are many descendants of the issue of this marriage in Virginia and West Virginia.

[Source: "History and Government of West Virginia", 1896 By Virgil Anson Lewis. -- Sub. by K.T.]

Alexander Spottswood	Alexander Spottswood Expedition of Governor Spottswood over the Blue Ridge. —Alexander Spottswood was one of the most distinguished individuals that controlled the destiny of Colonial Virginia. Hardy pioneers had extended civilization over the eastern part of the Colony, but of the region to the westward, nothing was known; the time was now come when white men should penetrate the vast wilderness and return to tell the story of its wonderful resources. Governor Spottswood equipped a party of thirty horsemen, and, heading it in person, left Williamsburg, then the capital of Virginia, on June 20th, 1716.
Alexander Spottswood, who led the party, was born in 1676, at Tangier, then an English Colony, in Africa, his father being the resident surgeon. He was a thoroughly trained soldier, serving on the Continent under the Duke of Marlborough. He was dangerously wounded at the battle of Blenheim, in 1704, when serving as quartermaster-general, with the rank of Colonel. He arrived in Virginia in 1710, as Lieutenant-Governor under George Hamilton, the Earl of Orkney, and his administration was the most able of all the Colonial rulers. He, in connection with Robert Carry of England, established the first iron furnace in North America. In 1730, he was made Deputy Postmaster-General for the American Colonies, and it was he who promoted Benjamin Franklin to the position of Postmaster for the province of Pennsylvania. He rose to the rank of Major-General and, when on the eve of embarking with troops destined for Carthagena, died at Annapolis, Maryland, June 7th, 1740. He owned the house in which Lord Cornwallis afterward signed the articles of capitulation at Yorktown.
Lady Spottswood	Lady Spottswood, who became the wife of Governor Alexander Spottswood, in 1724, was Anne Butler, daughter of Richard Brayne, of Westminster, England. She derived her middle name from James Butler, Duke of Ormond, her god-father. There are many descendants of the issue of this marriage in Virginia and West Virginia. [Source: "History and Government of West Virginia", 1896 By Virgil Anson Lewis. -- Sub. by K.T.]