Francis Fauquier
Encyclopedia
Francis Fauquier was a Lieutenant Governor
of Virginia Colony (in what is today the United States
), and served as acting governor from 1758 until his death in 1768. He was married to Catherine Dalston.
He was a noted friend of Thomas Jefferson
. As royal governor of Virginia, Fauquier often hosted lavish parties where Jefferson (then a College of William and Mary
student) played his violin and drank imported wines. Fauquier County in Northern Virginia
is named in his honor. Also, due to his connection to several prominent members (both student and faculty) of The College of William & Mary, a building and a secret society (The Fauquier Society) on the campus are named for him.
. His father, Dr. John Francis Fauquier, born in France
, relocated to Britain
to work with Sir Isaac Newton. Dr. Fauquier later became director of the Bank of England
.
Like his father, Fauquier was brought up to be a renaissance man with expertise in both science and industry, with interests in the arts and charity. He became director of the South Sea Company in 1751. In that same year he also became one of the governors of the charitable Foundling Hospital
for abandoned children. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1753.
He came to the colony of Virginia as Lieutenant Governor in 1758 succeeding Robert Dinwiddie
, and remained in that position until his death. In the absence of the governors—the Earl of Loudoun
(1756–63) and Jeffery Amherst (1763–68)—he was the chief administrative officer. Instructions sent with him demanded that the office of treasurer
of the colony
be taken from the Speaker
of the House of Burgesses
, but he disobeyed these instructions and gained and maintained the friendship of the house. In 1760 he informed the government
of the trend toward opposition to British policies in the colony and proposed that British tax policy be changed. In 1765, however, he dissolved the House of Burgesses
when it passed a resolution against the Stamp Act
. Patrick Henry
was a thorn in Fauquier's side for some time, he always called Henry "young and hotheaded".
Except in combating disloyalty, he sympathized with the colonists, and was one of the ablest and most popular of the royal governors. He published several financial essays, among them Raising Money for Support of the War.
Fauquier died in Virginia in 1768 at the age of 65.
Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor and Attorney General. The office is currently held by Republican William T. Bolling. The governor and lieutenant governor are elected...
of Virginia Colony (in what is today the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
), and served as acting governor from 1758 until his death in 1768. He was married to Catherine Dalston.
He was a noted friend of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
. As royal governor of Virginia, Fauquier often hosted lavish parties where Jefferson (then a College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
student) played his violin and drank imported wines. Fauquier County in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
is named in his honor. Also, due to his connection to several prominent members (both student and faculty) of The College of William & Mary, a building and a secret society (The Fauquier Society) on the campus are named for him.
Background
Fauquier was born in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His father, Dr. John Francis Fauquier, born in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, relocated to Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
to work with Sir Isaac Newton. Dr. Fauquier later became director of the Bank of England
Bank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
.
Like his father, Fauquier was brought up to be a renaissance man with expertise in both science and industry, with interests in the arts and charity. He became director of the South Sea Company in 1751. In that same year he also became one of the governors of the charitable Foundling Hospital
Foundling Hospital
The Foundling Hospital in London, England was founded in 1741 by the philanthropic sea captain Thomas Coram. It was a children's home established for the "education and maintenance of exposed and deserted young children." The word "hospital" was used in a more general sense than it is today, simply...
for abandoned children. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1753.
He came to the colony of Virginia as Lieutenant Governor in 1758 succeeding Robert Dinwiddie
Robert Dinwiddie
Robert Dinwiddie was a British colonial administrator who served as lieutenant governor of colonial Virginia from 1751 to 1758, first under Governor Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, and then, from July 1756 to January 1758, as deputy for John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun...
, and remained in that position until his death. In the absence of the governors—the Earl of Loudoun
Earl of Loudoun
Earl of Loudoun , named after Loudoun in Ayrshire, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun, along with the subsidiary title Lord Tarrinzean and Mauchline....
(1756–63) and Jeffery Amherst (1763–68)—he was the chief administrative officer. Instructions sent with him demanded that the office of treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of the colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
be taken from the Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
of the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
, but he disobeyed these instructions and gained and maintained the friendship of the house. In 1760 he informed the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
of the trend toward opposition to British policies in the colony and proposed that British tax policy be changed. In 1765, however, he dissolved the House of Burgesses
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
when it passed a resolution against the Stamp Act
Stamp Act
A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. Those that pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents. The taxes raised under a stamp act are called stamp duty. This system of taxation was first devised...
. Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and subsequently, from 1784 to 1786...
was a thorn in Fauquier's side for some time, he always called Henry "young and hotheaded".
Except in combating disloyalty, he sympathized with the colonists, and was one of the ablest and most popular of the royal governors. He published several financial essays, among them Raising Money for Support of the War.
Fauquier died in Virginia in 1768 at the age of 65.