History of Virginia :: :: University of Virginia Library

Mr. Pleasants was son of James Pleasants and Anne Randolph,
his wife, daughter of Isham Randolph of "Dungenness,"
Goochland County. He was born in Goochland County,
October 24, 1769, attended private schools, and after studying
law with Judge Fleming, began the practice of the profession
with considerable success. In 1796 he was elected a delegate
from Goochland, and served five sessions till 1802. As a Republican
he supported the resolutions of 1798-1799. In 1803 he was
chosen clerk of the House of Delegates and served until 1811,
when he was elected to the House of Representatives. In
Congress he supported Madison's policy on the War of 1812,
and continued in the House till 1819, when he was appointed to
the Senate of the United States, where he continued till 1822,
when he was elected Governor. Mr. Pleasants subsequently
served as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 182930,
which was his last public position, for, though twice elected
afterwards to judicial positions, such was his rare modesty
that he declined acceptance from a distrust of his qualifications.
His son, John Hampden Pleasants, was the famous
editor of the Richmond Whig.

Mr. Pleasants' message of December 1, 1823, is very full on
the conditions of the State. Returns from seventy-five counties
showed that 6,105 indigent children had been sent to school
in 1822 on the credit of the Literary Fund. The estimated
revenue of the State for the year beginning October 1, 1822,
was $462,363.83, and there was a balance on the previous year
of $19,993.92. The sum to the credit of the Literary Fund was
$1,228,568.33. In January, 1825, an act was passed for the
erection of another hospital for the insane to be created in the
western part of the State, and Mr. Pleasants, in his message,
mentioned Staunton as the place selected.

Taking its beginning from Monroe's recommendation in
1800 as a result of Gabriel's insurrection, the National Colonization

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Society was organized in December, 1816, at Washington
to provide a home on the coast of Africa for the free
negroes. Bushrod Washington of Virginia, nephew of General
Washington, was the first president of the society. During
Governor Pleasants' administration an auxiliary society
was formed in Richmond November, 1823, of which Chief
Justice John Marshall was elected president and Governor
Pleasants vice president. Later on, January 23, 1824, the citizens
of Richmond got together in a great meeting to express
sympathy with the Greeks in their struggle with the Turks.
There were also in 1824 the deaths of two prominent citizens
of the State, Judge Fleming of the Supreme Court of Appeals,
and Dr. William Foushee, who was one of Richmond's most
public spirited citizens.

But the greatest event which happened in 1824 was the visit
to the State of General La Fayette. He landed at Yorktown
October 19, and during his stay in the Commonwealth, which,
because of his associations, was the most beloved of all the
States, he visited Williamsburg, Richmond, Petersburg and
many other places, and everywhere the people turned out to
receive him en masse. At Williamsburg, William and Mary
College bestowed on him the degree of Doctor of Laws. He was
given a great demonstration in Richmond and at a banquet at
which Judge William Leigh presided La Fayette responded to
the toast, "The State of Virginia; the City of Richmond," and
Governor Pleasants to the toast, "The State of Virginia."