James Patton Preston

James Patton Preston ( born June 21, 1774 Smithfield, Montgomery County, Virginia; † May 4, 1843 ) was an American politician and from 1816 to 1819 Governor of Virginia.

Early years and political rise

James Preston visited 1790-1795, the College of William & Mary. He was a member of the founded by Thomas Jefferson Democratic- Republican Party. For this party, he spent four years as a member of the Senate of Virginia and then for two years a deputy in the House of Representatives of the State. During the British -American War of 1812, he was severely wounded as a lieutenant colonel. After his recovery, he was again in the House of Representatives before he was elected by the Legislature in 1816 as the new governor of his state.

Governor of Virginia and other CV

James Preston, took office on 11 December 1816 and was able to exercise this after two elections in 1817 and 1818 to 11 December 1819. During this time, the federal government paid over 1.5 million dollars to the state of Virginia as compensation for the costs of war of the war of 1812. Repayment for these already Prestons predecessor Wilson Cary Nicholas had used. At that time, the University of Virginia also founded in Charlottesville, its first president, Thomas Jefferson should be. After the expiration of his term of office Preston was postmaster in Richmond. Then he withdrew into retirement. He died in 1843. Together with his wife Anne Taylor he had three children. James Preston was brother of John Floyd and uncle of James McDowell and John B. Floyd, who later governors of Virginia were all.