1813 Virginia gubernatorial election

A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on December 11, 1813. The incumbent governor of Virginia James Barbour defeated the U.S. representative from Virginia's 17th congressional district James Pleasants.^[1]

Barbour's tenure coincided with the War of 1812. He had offended some officers in the Virginia militia by placing their junior colleague, brigadier general Robert B. Taylor, in command of the militia at Norfolk, Virginia, and his administration of the state's wartime finances drew criticism from tertium quids and those opposed to the war. These forces combined in an attempt to defeat Barbour for re-election in 1813. The opposition first approached brigadier general Francis Preston, who declined to challenge Barbour, before finally settling on Pleasants.^[5]

The election was conducted by the Virginia General Assembly in joint session. Barbour was elected with a majority on the first ballot.^[1]