Bacon, Nathaniel

Nathaniel (1647-1676), a leader of the Virginian colonists. He was a native of Suffolk, England. He was a distant relative of Francis Bacon. He was well born and well educated, but emigrated to Virginia in a spirit of adventure. Here he became a member of the governor's council, and an especial champion of the cause of the common people. Affairs were not going well in the colony. Charles II had granted Virginia to two worthless favorites, the Earl of Arlington and Lord Culpepper. Their agents were demanding payment for land from all settlers who could not show perfect title. Berkeley, the governor, was an aristocrat. He had no sympathy with the settlers. He had not called for the election of a new assembly in thirteen years. The assembly that held over transacted business to his liking, and he did not want a new element to get control. The vestries, the governing boards of the various parish churches, had become self-elective bodies, "close corporations." To add to their grievances, the settlers were harassed by the Indians. Cabins were set on fire at night, and the inhabitants were massacred, scalped, or carried into capitivity. Berkeley was carrying on a profitable trade through agents with the Indians, and appeared to be indifferent. He levied taxes of 2,000 pounds of tobacco for the building of forts, and allowed his officials to embezzle the proceeds. The atrocities of the Indians and the stubborn refusal of the government to take measures for the protection of the settlers became so exasperating that the people rose in revolt under Bacon, and proceeded to chastise the Indians. They then refused to lay down their arms until the governor should issue a proclamation of amnesty. A new election was called. Bacon was chosen a member. The new assembly widened the suffrage, gave the freemen of each parish the right to choose the vestries, and made other changes of a popular nature. Under pressure, Governor Berkeley not only pardoned Bacon, but promised him a commission to raise a volunteer army. Bacon suspected that the governor was planning to arrest him. He left James-town secretly but came back at the head of 500 men. Berkeley proclaimed him a rebel. Bacon's forces besieged Jamestown and reduced it to ashes. In the midst of their altercations Bacon died of a fever Many of the popular leaders were executed by the irate governor. The uprising is known in history as Bacon's Rebellion. See Berkeley; Sir William