The Virginia SAR is proud to recognize the compatriot governors of the Commonwealth. These leaders not only guided Virginia through pivotal moments in its history, but also carried with them a personal connection to the founding generation. Each governor honored the legacy of his Revolutionary War ancestor and upheld the principles of liberty, civic duty, and public service that shaped the nation.

Virginia’s history is inseparable from the American Revolution. From Patrick Henry’s call for liberty to the leadership of Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Nelson Jr., the Commonwealth played a defining role in the struggle for independence. That legacy did not end in 1783. Many of Virginia’s governors have been direct descendants of Revolutionary War Patriots (or Patriots themselves), carrying forward the ideals, memory, and civic spirit of the founding generation.

Patriot Governors | Sons of Patriots | Grandsons of Patriots | Compatriot Governors

This page recognizes Virginia governors who descend from Revolutionary Patriots through any direct ancestral line, consistent with SAR membership requirements. While many documented gubernatorial lineages naturally trace through fathers, paternal grandfathers, or maternal grandfathers, this reflects the patterns found in available historical sources rather than a limitation of scope. All direct ancestors—male or female—are potential qualifying lines, and research will continue to expand as additional maternal and collateral evidence emerges.

• Fifteen Virginia governors descend from Revolutionary War Patriots through at least one direct ancestral line
• Nine governors were “real” sons of Revolutionary Patriots, with fathers who rendered qualifying military, civil, or patriotic service.
• Ten governors were grandsons of Revolutionary Patriots, with lineage passing through either paternal or maternal grandfathers.
• Seven governors were Compatriot members of the Sons of the American Revolution, all from the Virginia Society, having personally documented their descent from a qualifying Patriot.

Multiple categories of Patriot service are represented among the governors’ ancestors, including military service, civil service, and patriotic service. Several governors descend from more than one Revolutionary Patriot, reflecting the deep Revolutionary‑era roots of many Virginia families.

Patriot Governors

• Patrick Henry (1st, 1776–1779, and 6th, 1784–1786) – Revolutionary leader; wartime governor
• Thomas Jefferson (2nd, 1779–1781) – Continental Congress; Declaration of Independence; wartime governor
• William Fleming (3rd, 1781) – State Senator of Virginia; acting wartime governor
• Thomas Nelson Jr. (4th, 1781) – Major General; Yorktown commander; wartime governor
• Benjamin Harrison V (5th, 1781–1784) – Signer of the Declaration; wartime governor
• Edmund Randolph (7th, 1786–1788) – Aide to Washington; wartime civil service
• Beverley Randolph (8th, 1788–1791) – Militia and civil service
• Henry Lee III (9th, 1791–1794) – Continental Army officer; “Light‑Horse Harry”
• Robert Brooke (10th, 1794–1796) – Continental Army officer
• James Wood (11th, 1796–1799) – Continental Army colonel
• James Monroe (12th, 1799–1802 and 16th, 1811) – Continental Army; wounded at Trenton. Future U.S. President
• John Page (13th, 1802–1805) – Militia colonel; Committee of Safety
• John Tyler, Sr. (15th, 1808–1811) – Member and speaker of Virginia House of Delegates
• Wilson Cary Nicholas (19th, 1814–1816) – Militia officer

Sons of Patriot—Governors

During the 250th Anniversary era (2025–2033), the nation is reflecting on the enduring legacy of the Revolutionary generation. Many of these gubernatorial lineages qualify descendants for grave markers recognizing their relationship to a Patriot.

Sons and Grandsons—and likewise Daughters and Granddaughters—may receive the SAR Patriot Sons/Daughters Medallion, a formal marker honoring both the Patriot and the gubernatorial descendant.

Families interested in marking the grave of a governor or other ancestor may contact the SAR for assistance with documentation and ceremony planning.

• William H. Cabell (14th, 1805–1808) – Son of Nicholas Cabell, militia & civil service
• George William Smith (17th, 1811) – Son of Meriwether Smith, civil, patriotic and military service. SAR Patriot #: P-292670
• James Patton Preston (20th, 1816–1819) – Son of William Preston, Virginia militia colonel
• Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. (21st, 1819–1822) – Son of Thomas Mann Randolph Sr., a Revolutionary civil servant. Grandson of Archibald Cary, Chairman of Virginia’s Committee of Safety and a leading Patriot statesman. Great‑grandson of Colonel Thomas Mann, Goochland County militia officer and civil Patriot.
• John Tyler (23rd, 1825–1827) – Son of John Tyler Sr., civil, patriotic and militia service. Future U.S. President (1841–1845)
• John Floyd (25th, 1830–1834) – Son of John Floyd Sr., civil, patriotic and militia service; prisoner of war
• Littleton Waller Tazewell (26th, 1834–1836) Son of John Tazewell, Continental Army officer
• David Campbell (27th, 1837–1840) – Son of John Campbell, Signer of Fincastle Resolutions and militia officer
• Joseph E. Johnson (32nd, 1852–1856) – Son of Joseph Johnson, Connecticut line and New York militia and patriotic service

Grandson of Patriot—Governors

• Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. (21st, 1819–1822) – Grandson of Archibald Cary, Chairman of Virginia’s Committee of Safety and a leading Patriot statesman. He is also a son and great-grandson of other Patriots. 
• Thomas Walker Gilmer (28th, 1840–1841) – Paternal grandfather George Gilmer Jr., Surgeon, 11th Virginia Regiment; Albemarle County militia; signer of the Albemarle Declaration of Independence (1779). Maternal grandfather Christopher Hudson, Signer of the Albemarle County Oath of Allegiance (1777).
• James McDowell (29th, 1843–1846) – Maternal grandfather William Preston, civil, patriotic and militia colonel.
• William Smith (30th, 1846–1849) – Paternal grandfather Thomas Smith, civil service as presiding officer of Westmoreland County Committee of Safety. Maternal grandfather William Smith, Continental Army and militia officer.
• John B. Floyd (31st, 1849–1852) – Paternal grandfather John Floyd Sr., civil, patriotic and militia service; prisoner of war.
• Henry A. Wise (33rd, 1856–1860) – Maternal grandfather John Cropper Jr., Continental Line officer of 11th Virginia Regiment.
• John Letcher (34th, 1860–1864) – Paternal grandfather William Letcher, patriotic and militia service; killed by Tories in 1780. Maternal grandfather William Davidson, Colonel, Rockbridge County Militia.
• Francis H. Pierpoint (35th, 1861–1868) – Grandfather John Pierpont, Maryland militia and patriotic service.
• James L. Kemper (37th, 1874–1878) – Paternal grandfather John Kemper (SAR Patriot P‑258803). Maternal grandfather James Perkins.
• Fitzhugh Lee (40th, 1886–1890) – Paternal grandfather Henry Lee III, Continental Army “Light‑Horse Harry” and 9th Virginia Governor.

Compatriot Governors

Since the founding of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution in 1889, and the establishment of the Virginia Society in 1890, the SAR has worked to preserve the memory of the patriots who secured American independence. Among the many Virginians who have carried that legacy forward are several Governors of the Commonwealth whose own family histories connect directly to the Revolutionary generation.

Many of these governors now rest in historic cemeteries across Virginia—from Morven Park in Leesburg to Mount Hebron in Winchester, Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, and family grounds in Southampton and Halifax counties. Their interment sites offer meaningful places to honor their dual legacy as civic leaders and descendants of Revolutionary War patriots. In keeping with the Society’s mission, these locations also provide opportunities for Compatriot Grave Marking ceremonies, ensuring that their service, lineage, and contributions to the Commonwealth continue to be recognized by future generations.

• Westmoreland Davis (48th, 1918–1922) – National SAR No. 35088. Descendant of Henry Morris (SAR Patriot P-252524). Became a SAR compatriot on 09 May 1921 while serving as governor. Served on National SAR Committee (1927–28) of Observance of Constitution Day. (Burial: Morven Park Estate Cemetery, Leesburg, Loudoun County, VA)
• Elbert Lee Trinkle (49th, 1922–1926) – National SAR No. 36573. Descendant of Christopher Trinkle, Private in the 1st Virginia Regiment. SAR Patriot #: P-307095.  Application approved and registered on 15 Jun 1923 while Governor. (Burial: East End Cemetery, Wytheville, Wythe County, VA)
• Harry F. Byrd (50th, 1926–1930) – National SAR No. 39408, Descendant of Benjamin Harrison, SAR Patriot: P-176124. Membership application approved in early Jan 1924, while serving in the Virginia State Senate. Awarded the Gold Good Citizenship Medal in 1958. (Burial: Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, VA)
• John Garland Pollard (51st, 1930–1934) – National SAR No. 42985. Descendant of John Pollard, SAR Patriot: P-271509. (Burial: Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA)
• Colgate Whitehead Darden Jr. (54th, 1942–1946) – National SAR No. 61209. Descendant of William Whitehead (SAR Patriot P-318622). (Burial: Jericho Farm Cemetery, Courtland, Southampton County, VA)
• William M. Tuck (55th, 1946–1950) – National SAR No. 70147. Descendant of John Tuck (SAR Patriot P-307574). Supplementals: Descendant of William Wilkinson (SAR Patriot P-307574) and Hampton Wade (SAR Patriot P-311301). Tuck attended the 87th National SAR Congress (Milwaukee, WI) in 1961. (Burial: Oak Ridge Cemetery, South Boston, Halifax County, VA)
• Chuck Robb (64th, 1982–1986) – National SAR No. 121305. Descendant of Anthony de Graffenreid (SAR Patriot P-145583). (Living)

Two governors also have patriot ancestors; however no evidence exists of either joining the SAR:

• James Hoge Taylor (43rd, 1898–1902) – descendant of Lieutenant George Tyler, Caroline County militia officer.
• Thomas B. Stanley (57th, 1954–1958) – descendant of Robert Hairston, as evidenced by his son Thomas B. Stanley, Jr., becoming a SAR compatriot member in 1964.

Virginia’s representation in the United States Senate and House has long included men with direct ties to the American Revolution. Many came from families shaped by the founding era, carried forward the legacy of Patriot ancestors, or were themselves active in hereditary and historical societies. The lists below highlight Virginia’s U.S. Senators and Congressmen with confirmed or strongly indicated SAR connections, extending the story of Revolutionary lineage from the Governor’s Mansion to the halls of Congress.

Compatriot U.S. Senators from Virginia

• John Warwick Daniel – National SAR No. 2030. Descendant of Surgeon Cornelius Baldwin (SAR Patriot P-107524) and John Wyatt (SAR Patriot P-325440). DC Society membership approved and registered in Feb 1892. (Burial: Lynchburg City Cemetery, Lynchburg, Virginia).
• Carter Glass – National SAR No. 28346. Descendant of Capt. Henry Christian (SAR Patriot P-132714). Membership approved and registered while he was serving as a U.S. Congressman. (Burial: Spring Hill Cemetery, Lynchburg, Virginia).
  
• Harry F. Byrd –  National SAR No. 39408. Awarded Gold SAR Good Citizenship Medal in 1958. (Burial: Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia)
• Harry F. Byrd Jr. – National SAR No. 67441. Awarded Gold SAR Good Citizenship Medal in 1972. (Burial: Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia)
• A. Willis Roberson - National SAR No. 78183. Descendant of Churchill Gordon (SAR Patriot P-168152). Virginia Society membership approved 26 Apr 1954. Awarded the Gold SAR Good Citizenship Medal by the Virginia SAR in 1966.  (Burial: Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia) 
  

Compatriot U.S. Congressmen from Virginia

• William Henry Fitzburgh Lee – Grandson of Henry “Light Horse” Lee. W.H.F. (or Rooney) Lee was a founding member of the Virginia SAR and appointed as the first Vice President General on February 28, 1890.
• Carter Glass – National SAR No. 28346. Descendant of Capt. Henry Christian (SAR Patriot P-132714). Membership approved and registered in April 1916. 

Together, these lineages illustrate the deep Revolutionary‑era roots that continue to shape Virginia’s civic tradition.

Patriot U.S. Senators from Virginia 

• 1- William Grayson (1789–1790)
• 2 - Richard Henry Lee (1789–1792)
• 1 - John Walker (1790)
• 2 - John Taylor (1792–1794)
• 1 - James Monroe (1790–1794)
• 2 - Henry Tazewell (1794–1799)
• 1 - Stevens Thomson Mason (1794–1803)
• 2 - Wilson Cary Nicholas (1799–1804)
• 1 - John Taylor of Caroline (1803)
• 2 - Andrew Moore (1804)
• 1 - Andrew Moore (1804–1809)
• 2 - William Branch Giles (1804–1815)
• 1 - Richard Brent (1809–1814)

Son or Grandson of Patriot—U.S. Senators from Virginia

• John Randolph of Roanoke—son of patriot John Randolph John Randolph (1742–1775)
• John Tyler—son of patriot John Tyler, Sr.
• William Cabell Rives—grandson of patriot William Cabell
• Isaac S. Pennybacker—grandson of patriot Derick Pennybacker
• John Wayles Eppes–son of patriot Frances Eppes VI
• Armistead Thomson Mason—son of patriot Steven’s Thomson Mason
• James M. Mason—grandson of patriot George Mason (1725–1792)
• Waitman Thomas Willey—grandson of patriots Willey and Thomas Barnes
• John F. Lewis—grandson of patriots John Lewis and Charles Cameron
• Robert E. Withers—grandson of patriots Thomas Withers and Dr. Archibald Alexander
• William Mahone—grandson of patriots William Mahone, Sr., and James Drew

All genealogical analysis and historical compilation on this page constitute original research by webmaster David Harrity (mailto:[email protected]). Use or reproduction requires permission. All rights reserved.