Randolph, John

John (1773-1833), a distinguished American statesman. He belonged to an old, wealthy, influential family of Virginia. By way of distinction from the many other members of the family, he was known as Randolph of Roanoke. He was reputed to be a direct descendent of Pocahontas. He was educated at William and Mary, Princeton, and Columbia. He took up the practice of law. In 1799 he entered Congress. He denounced the Alien and Sedition Laws and opposed the War of 1812. During Jackson's administration he was minister to Russia, yet upheld Calhoun against Jackson in the nullification controversy. He was a tall, slender, dark complexioned man, with a keen, high, shrill voice and long, thin hands. He had a habit of shaking his forefinger at his opponents when speaking excitedly. He was a man of eccentric ideas and great originality. He despised the Northern men who compromised with slavery, calling them "doughfaces." When Adams of New England and Clay of Kentucky formed an alliance, Randolph stigmatized it as "a combination of Puritan and blackleg." Clay challenged him to a duel. He accepted, fired his gun into the air, and offered Clay his hand. He was never married. At his death he emancipated 318 slaves and left them property enough to start them off in life. See Pocahontas