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Randolph (EDMUND JENNINGS an American)

EDMUND JENNINGS, an American statesman; born in Williamsburg, Va., Aug. 10, 1753; studied at William and Mary College, and was admitted to the bar. In 1776 he helped to frame the constitution of Virginia, and became the State's first attorney-general.

In 1786-1788 he was governor of Virginia, and in 1787 a member of the convention which framed the Constitution of the United States. In 1789, he was appointed by Washington Attorney-General of the United States. In 1794 he was made Secretary of State, but after the President's signing of the Jay Treaty (1795) with England he resigned in order to be free to vindicate his own conduct. Meanwhile he was practically ruined by the responsibility which he had incurred, as part of the duties of his office, for certain funds provided for foreign service; and had to assign his lands and slaves. He died in Clarke co., Va., Sept. 13, 1813.