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The Founders and the Constitution, Part 5: Edmund Randolph

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The Founders and the Constitution, Part 5: Edmund Randolph
Circa 1780: Edmund Jennings Randolph (1753-1813) was a Founding Father of the United States. Born in Virginia, Randolph was aide de camp to General Washington 1775–76, attorney general of Virginia (1776), delegate, Continental Congress 1779–82, 7th governor of Virginia (1786–88), first U.S. attorney general (1789–94), U.S. secretary of state (1794–95), practiced law in Richmond, Virginia from 1795, chief counsel for Aaron Burr in his treason trial 1807. Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Rob Natelson
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Commentary

Edmund Randolph was born into a family with a tradition of public service. His maternal grandfather had been King’s Attorney (attorney general) in colonial Maryland. His paternal grandfather, father, and uncle all held the same position in colonial Virginia. His uncle, Peyton Randolph, served as president of the First and Second Continental Congresses.

Rob Natelson
Rob Natelson
Author
Robert G. Natelson, a former constitutional law professor who is senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute in Denver, authored “The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant” (3rd ed., 2015). He is a contributor to The Heritage Foundation’s “Heritage Guide to the Constitution.”
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