Mathew Ashby

carter
A free man of mixed racial heritage, worked as a carter.

Benedict Arnold

military officer
Skillful military strategist who defected and joined the loyalists in 1779.

William Byrd III

statesman, military officer
A gentry man whose gambling habits led to lifetime of debt.

Robert Carter

statesman, planter
This religious enthusiast emancipated 500 slaves.

Richard Charlton

merchant
Owner of Charlton's coffeehouse and wigmaker.

Francis Fauquier

governor
Lieutenant governor of Virginia for 10 years.

Gaby Burwell

enslaved person
Runaway slave who belonged to James Burwell.

James Geddy Jr.

silversmith
Williamsburg's best-known colonial silversmith.

John Greenhow

merchant
Merchant with store on Duke of Gloucester St.

Samuel Henley

priest, professor
British-born professor of moral philosophy at the College of William and Mary.

Patrick Henry

statesman, lawyer, planter
Lawyer, patriot, orator, and participant in virtually every aspect of the founding of America.

William Holt

merchant
Merchant, entrepreneur, and landowner in Williamsburg, Yorktown, and James City County.

Alexander Hoy

carpenter
A Williamsburg carpenter who fell into debt, and enlisted in the Army in 1776.

James Innes

military officer, lawyer
Lieutenant Colonel of Virginia's 15th Regiment in Revolutionary War

Thomas Jefferson

statesman, lawyer, planter
Scholar, governor of Virginia, writer of the Declaration of Independence, and considered one of the founding fathers.

Marquis de Lafayette

military officer
At 19 years old, this Frenchman's passion and skill helped win the American Revolution.

Richard Henry Lee

statesman, lawyer, planter
Planter who was a defender of colonial rights and was aligned with Patrick Henry as a strong opponent of the Stamp Act.

George Mercer

military officer, surveyor
Surveyor, military officer, and for a brief time, stamp collector for the colonies of Maryland and Virginia.

James Monroe

patriot, president
James Monroe came to Williamsburg to study but ended up joining the Revolution

Lord Dunmore, John Murray

governor
Fourth Earl of Dunmore

Edmund Pendleton

lawyer, statesman
Moderate political views guide a lifetime of public service.

Alexander Purdie

printer
Public printer and postmaster.

Captain Tom Step

military
Nottoway Indian diplomat and war captain.

John Montour

interpreter
Delaware Indian linguistic and cultural interpreter.

Robert Carter Nicholas

lawyer, statesman
Lawyer who introduced day of fasting, humiliation and prayer in sympathy with embargoed Boston.

Gowan Pamphlet

preacher
Originially a slave belonging to Jane Vobe, later freed and became a Baptist minister.

Peter Pelham

organist, gaolkeeper
Musician and keeper of the Public Gaol.

Benjamin Powell

builder, planter, statesman
A successful builder in colonial Williamsburg.

Edmund Randolph

lawyer, statesman, military aide-de-camp
Son of John "The Tory" Randolph, joined the American army and served as aide-de-camp to General George Washington.

Sir John Randolph

statesman, lawyer
Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and Attorney General for the Virginia colony.

John "The Tory" Randolph

statesman, lawyer
Son of Sir John Randolph, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, Attorney General for the Virginia colony and loyalist.

Peyton Randolph

statesman, lawyer
Revolutionary leader, Attorney General of Virginia Colony, and chairman of the first and second Continental Congress.

statesman, planter
Planter, delegate, and speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses.

St. George Tucker

lawyer, statesman
Lawyer, trader, inventor, scholar, professor, judge, essayist, poet, gardener, and stargazer.

Benjamin Waller

lawyer, developer
Lawyer, civil servant, community leader, and land developer.

George Washington

statesman, military officer
Considered one of the founding fathers, a general in the Virginia militia, and first president of the United States of America.

George Wythe

lawyer, statesman
First Virginia signer of the Declaration of Independence, framer of the federal Constitution, and instrumental in the design of the seal of Virginia.