University of Virginia Library

SIR WILLIAM BERKELEY.

Sir William Berkeley, the son of Sir Maurice, and brother of Lord
John Berkeley of Stratton, was born near London about 1610. He
graduated M. A., at Oxford, in 1629, traveled extensively in Europe in

PEYTON RANDOLPH,

First Speaker of the Continental Congress.

From the original in the possession of Peyton
Johnston, Esq., Richmond.

1630, and returned an accomplished courtier and cavalier. He was commissioned
Governor of Virginia, August 9, 1641, and arrived in the
Colony in February, 1642, and by some salutary measures as well as by
his prepossessing manners, rendered himself acceptable to the colonists.
On the 18th of April, 1644, a second Indian massacre occurred in the
Colony. The number of the victims has been variously stated as three
and five hundred. During a visit of Berkeley to England from June,
1644, to June, 1645, his place was filled by Richard Kempe, a member
of the Council, and who had been its Secretary. During the civil war
in England, Berkeley took the royal side, and Virginia was the last of the
English possessions which acknowledged the authority of Cromwell. He
manifested shrewdness as well as courage when the fleet of parliament
appeared in James River in 1651, and made terms satisfactory to both
parties. He was superseded in the Government, according to Hening,
April 30, 1652, by Richard Bennet, but there are grants of land of record
in the Virginia Land Registry, signed by Bennet in January, 1652.

He was re-elected Governor by the Assembly March 23, 1660, and
commissioned by Charles II., July 31, 1660. He was sent, April 30,
1661, by the Colony to England to protest against the enforcement of the
Navigation Act, Colonel Francis Morrison acting as Governor until
Berkeley's return in the fall of 1662.

Berkeley lost popularity with the colonists by his extreme severity
towards the followers of Nathanial Bacon, whose so-called "rebellion"
had been occasioned by Berkeley's own faithlessness and obstinacy.
Twenty-three of the participants were executed, and Berkeley was only
restrained from the further shedding of blood by the remonstrance of the
Assembly.

Charles II. is reported to have said: "The old fool has taken more
lives in his naked country than I have taken for my father's murder."
Through the influence of the planters, Berkeley was recalled, and died at
Twickenham, July 9, 1677, before he could have an interview with the
King. Berkeley in his reply to commissioners, sent to inquire into the
condition of the Colony, said, "Thank God! there are no free schools or
printing presses, and I hope there will be none for a hundred years; for
learning has brought disobedience and heresy and sects into the world,
and printing has divulged these and other `libels.' " He wrote two plays,
and is the author of "A Description of Virginia," folio, 1663. His
widow, Lady Frances Berkeley, who had before been Dame Stephens,
and whose maiden name was Culpeper, married thirdly, Philip Ludwell
of "Green Spring," Virginia, long the secretary of the Colony.