Thomas Jefferson Papers
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Virginia Council of State’s Appointment of University of Virginia Board of Visitors, 29 February 1820

Virginia Council of State’s Appointment of University of Virginia Board of Visitors

Tuesday Feb: 29. 1820

The Governor called the attention of the board to the subject of appointing Visitors for the University of Virginia in Conformity with the provisions of an act of assembly passed the 25 January 1819—Whereupon, the following persons were duly appointed Visitor—to wit:

Thomas Jefferson—James Madison—Chapman Johnson—Jos. C. Cabell—Robert B Taylor—James Breckenridge & John H Cocke—

and in pursuance of the provisions of the1 aforesaid act of assembly the Executive is authorised to fix on a day for the meeting of the Visitors—It is advised, That the said Visitors shall assemble on the first monday in April next at the said University near Charlottesville in Albemarle County And should a majority fail to assemble on that day, the meeting shall stand and be adjourned from day to day until a majority of the board of Visitors shall attend.

MS (Vi: RG 75, Journals of the Council of State); in a clerk’s hand; dateline at head of day’s proceedings, followed by indication that the members initially present were Thomas Mann Randolph, Peter V. Daniel, William F. Pendleton, John M. Martin, Robert G. Scott, and William Robertson, with William H. Roane also arriving before the above action was discussed; signed by Daniel, Pendleton, Roane, Scott, and Robertson at end of day’s proceedings. Tr (ViU: TJP); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Randolph and countersigned and attested a “true Copy” by council clerk John Burfoot; at head of text: “In Council Feby 29h 1820”; addressed: “Thomas Jefferson esqr Monticello Albemarle Co.”; endorsed by TJ: “Visitors Appmt Feb. 29. 20.” Tr (ViU: JHC); in a clerk’s hand, signed by Randolph and countersigned and attested a “true Copy” by Burfoot; at head of text: “In Council Feby 29h 1820.”

The 25 Jan. 1819 act of assembly that created the University of Virginia specified that at four-year intervals, on 29 Feb., the governor with advice of the Council of State was to reconstitute the school’s seven-member Board of Visitors and name the time and location of its first meeting (TJ’s Bill to Establish a University, printed above at 19 Nov. 1818; Acts of Assembly description begins Acts of the General Assembly of Virginia (cited by session; title varies over time) description ends [1818–19 sess.], 15–7). On this occasion all of the original visitors were reappointed.

1Preceding three words not in Trs.

Index Entries

  • An act for the establishment of an University (1819) search
  • Breckinridge (Breckenridge), James; appointed to University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Burfoot, John; as clerk of Va. Council of State search
  • Cabell, Joseph Carrington; appointment of to University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Cocke, John Hartwell (1780–1866); appointment of to University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Daniel, Peter Vyvian; as lieutenant governor of Va. search
  • Daniel, Peter Vyvian; as member of Va. Council of State search
  • Jefferson, Thomas; Public Service; appointed to University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Johnson, Chapman; appointment of to University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Madison, James (1751–1836); appointed to University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Martin, John M.; as member of Va. Council of State search
  • Pendleton, William F.; as member of Va. Council of State search
  • Randolph, Thomas Mann (1768–1828) (TJ’s son-in-law; Martha Jefferson Randolph’s husband); as governor of Va. search
  • Roane, William Henry; as member of Va. Council of State search
  • Robertson, William (1750–1829); as member of Va. Council of State search
  • Scott, Robert G.; as member of Va. Council of State search
  • Taylor, Robert Barraud; appointment of to University of Virginia Board of Visitors search
  • Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; meetings of search
  • Virginia, University of; Board of Visitors; members of search
  • Virginia; Council of State search