Edmund Jennings Randolph - Founding Father

Edmund Jennings Randolph was born August 10, 1753, at Tazewell Hall in Williamsburg, VA. Tazewell Hall was the family seat of his grandfather, Sir John Randolph (1693-1737), and his father, John Randolph (1727-1784), as well as of his uncle, Peyton Randolph, who was the king’s attorney for Virginia. Edmund Randolph graduated from the College of William and Mary and studied law with his father.

He was the first Attorney General of the United States. He was raised a Master Mason in Williamsburg Lodge No.6 in 1774. He served as the seventh governor of Virginia and the second Secretary of State. Edmund Jennings Randolph was the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia from 1786 until 1788. On April 28, 1788, as Grand Master of Masons (1787-1789) and Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Edmund Jennings Randolph signed the Virginia Charter affiliating Alexandria Lodge No.39 to be under the Grand Lodge of Virginia. George Washington became the First or Charter Worshipful Master. On December 9, 1805, the Grand Lodge of Virginia granted permission for Alexandria Lodge No.39 to officially change its name to Alexandria-Washington Lodge No.22.

During the Revolutionary War, Edmund Jennings Randolph served as an aide-de-camp (a high-ranking military officer serving as a personal assistant or secretary to a senior officer) to General George Washington.  His service was cut short when he was required to return home to manage the affairs of his uncle, Peyton Randolph, who served as the First President of the Continental Congress, and had unexpectedly passed away.

Peyton Randolph had also been the last Provincial Grand Master of Masons in Virginia when it was still under the Grand Lodge of England. He was a lawyer, politician, and planter from Virginia. He rose to prominence during the Revolutionary War, serving as Speaker of the House of Burgesses and earning the nickname “The Father of Your Country.”

Edmund Jennings Randolph became a member of the Virginia Convention, where he served on the committee drafting the constitution. During that year, he became the first Attorney General of Virginia and served until 1786. During this period, he served in the Continental Congress in 1779 and again in 1780 until 1782. He had a large private law practice and provided many legal services to George Washington. In 1786, Randolph served as a delegate to the Annapolis Convention. Then, in 1787 and 1788, he served as the Governor of Virginia.

In 1787, Edmund Jennings Randolph served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. On May 29, he introduced the Virginia Plan, drafted by James Madison. Edmund Randolph strongly advocated a centralized government, the prohibition of the importation of slaves, and the appointment of three executives from different parts of America. Along with George Mason and Elbridge Gerry, Edmund Randolph refused to sign the Constitution. He felt that too much power over commerce was granted to a mere majority in Congress because no provision was made for a second convention to act after the present document had been referred to the states. In October 1787, Edmund Randolph authored an attack on the Constitution. He had previously urged the Constitution’s confirmation, arguing that it was too late to attempt to amend it without endangering the Union. Edmund Randolph believed that Virginia’s acceptance would mark the ninth state needed.

Edmund Randolph declined re-election as Virginia’s governor in 1788. He then entered the House of Delegates to work on revising and organizing state laws, which were published in 1794. President George Washington appointed Edmund Randolph as the First Attorney General of the United States in 1789. He then worked on a revision of the Judiciary Act of 1789, especially to relieve the Supreme Court Justices of the responsibilities of circuit court judges. Edmund Randolph helped shape the legal and foreign policy foundations for our young country.

The Judiciary Act of 1789 was a law passed by the first United States Congress to establish the Federal Court System. The bill was primarily written by Senator Oliver Ellsworth of Connecticut, and it was one of the first bills considered by Congress. Judiciary Act of 1789, an act that established the organization of the U.S. federal court system, which had been sketched only in general terms in the U.S. Constitution. The act established a three-part judiciary—district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court—and outlined the structure and jurisdiction of each branch.

On January 2, 1774, Edmund Randolph succeeded Thomas Jefferson, who had resigned, as the second Secretary of State. On August 20, 1795, Edmund Randolph resigned from office, resulting from a struggle to maintain a policy of neutrality in the war between England and France and accusations of corruption by the Federalists (a person who advocates or supports a system of government in which several states unite under a central authority) in George Washington’s cabinet.

In 1774, Edmund Jennings Randolph was raised a Master Mason in Williamsburg Lodge No. 6. The lessons and meaning of the Holy Bible, Square, and Compasses were the rule and guide of his patriotic, professional, and service to the Craft throughout his life.

He served as Virginia Grand Master of Masons from 1787-1789.  During his time as Grand Master, Edmund Jennings Randolph made several major contributions to Virginia Masonry.

After leaving the federal cabinet, Randolph returned to Virginia to practice law, where he was a leader of the state bar. His most famous case was defending Aaron Burr at Burr’s treason trial in 1807, where Burr was found not guilty.

On September 2, 1782, Robert Adam, Esq., Dr. Elisdha Cullen Dick, and others presented a petition to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to organize a Masonic Lodge in the City of Alexandria, VA.  On February 3, 1783, the charter was granted. On February 25, 1783, the first communication was held in the first Masonic Lodge in Alexandria. It was known as Alexandria Lodge No. 39,  under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.  On June 24, 1784, George Washington was elected to honorary membership in Alexandria Lodge #39.

In 1788, the Brethren of Alexandria Lodge No.39 desired to change their affiliation from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania to that of Virginia. The Grand Lodge of Virginia had been organized during the Revolutionary War. This resulted in George Washington becoming its First or Charter Worshipful Master when Alexandria Lodge No. 39 was reorganized and established under the Grand Lodge of Virginia. On April 28, 1788, Edmund Randolph, who was the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and also the Grand Master of Masons at the same time, signed the Virginia Charter. After the preamble, it reads in part as follows:

“KNOW YE, That We, Edmund Randolph, Esq., Governor of the Commonwealth aforesaid, and Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Freemasons, within the same, by and with the consent of the Grand Lodge of Virginia, do hereby constitute and appoint our illustrious and well-beloved brother, George Washington, Esq., late General and Commander-in-Chief of the forces of the United States of America, etc.”

On October 29, 1787, Richmond Randolph Lodge No. 19 was chartered. It was named for Edmund Jennings Randolph, who was Grand Master of Virginia Masons and the Governor of Virginia when the application was received at the Grand Annual Communication.

Edmund Jennings Randolph was visiting Nathaniel Burwell, an American politician and plantation owner, at Carter Hall.  Perhaps the most distinguished of the five men of that name to serve in the Virginia General Assembly before the American Civil War. 

This Nathaniel Burwell won election to the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Ratifying Convention and served as the county lieutenant of the James City County Militia.

It was during this visit, on September 12, 1813, that Edmund Jennings Randolph laid down his working tools due to paralysis.  He was sixty years old. 

SO, MOTE IT BE.

Brother Keith Barksdale Throckmorton, Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120, Past Chaplain and Past Chairman Grand Lodge Committee On Masonic Community Blood Program.