John Minor (politician)
American lawyer and politician from Virginia (1761–1816)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Minor Jr. (May 13, 1761 – June 8, 1816) was an American politician and lawyer from Virginia. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.
John Minor Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 13, 1761 Caroline County, Colony of Virginia, British America |
| Died | June 8, 1816 (aged 55) Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Masonic Cemetery Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Berkeley
(m. 1786; died 1787)Lucy Landon Carter (m. 1793) |
| Relations | Matthew Fontaine Maury (grandson) Charles Minor Blackford (grandson) |
| Children | 7, including Mary |
| Occupation |
|
Early life
John Minor Jr. was born on May 13, 1761, at Topping Castle in Caroline County, Virginia, to John Minor.[1][2][3] His grandfather John Minor was justice of the peace in Spotsylvania County.[3]
Career
Minor was the first commonwealth's attorney for Fredericksburg.[4] He served in the Virginia House of Delegates. In the 1770s or 1780s, he proposed a bill in the Virginia General Assembly for the emancipation of slaves.[4][5][6] He was a presidential elector during James Monroe's election.[3]
Minor served as a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He attained the rank of general while serving in the War of 1812.[2][3][7] He was a slave owner.[8]
Personal life
Minor married Mary Berkeley, daughter of Nelson Berkeley, of Airwell, Hanover County, Virginia, in February 1786. His wife died in 1787.[2][9] He married Lucy Landon Carter, daughter of Landon Carter, of Cleve, King George County, Virginia, on December 12, 1793.[1][2][4][10] They had seven children, including Lucian, Mary Berkeley, Lancelot Byrd and John.[1][3][5][8][7] His grandsons were Matthew Fontaine Maury[4] and Charles Minor Blackford.[2] He lived at Hazel Hill on Princess Anne Street in Fredericksburg.[6][11] He was friends with James Monroe.[3]
Minor died on June 8, 1816, in Richmond.[1][12] He was interred at the family burial ground at Hazel Hill (Sligo).[3][13] He was reinterred at the Masonic Cemetery in Fredericksburg on December 29, 1855.[3][4]
