William Preston (Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Col. William Preston played a crucial role in surveying and developing the colonies going westward, exerted great influence in the colonial affairs of his time, ran a large plantation, and founded a dynasty whose progeny would supply leaders for the South for nearly a century. He served in the Virginia House of Burgesses
, and was a Colonel in the militia during the American Revolutionary War
. He was one of the thirteen signers of the Fincastle Resolutions
, a predecessor to the United States Declaration of Independence
.
. He married Susanna Smith on January 17, 1761, and together they had 12 children. He and his family moved to Smithfield Plantation
, in present day Blacksburg, Virginia
, in 1774 and it served as his final home.
in 1765 to represent Augusta County
and served until the county was divided around 1770. In 1775, Preston was one of the thirteen signers of the Fincastle Resolutions
.
He served in both the French and Indian War
and American Revolutionary War
. He was a Colonel for the militia in the American Revolutionary War
. During the French and Indian War
, William Preston saved George Washington
's life from an impending Indian attack. During Lord Dunsmore's War of 1774 against the Shawnee Indians, he urged Virginians to join the militia to enact revenge on the Indians and plunder their stock of horses. One of Col. Preston's greatest contribution to the American Revolutionary War
was his ability to suppress the Tories
(British loyalist) from uprising in Southwest Virginia, which help prevent a civil war from breaking out. He also helped aid in the fight against Lord Cornwallis
and the British in the Carolinas.
's campus in Blacksburg, Virginia
near Smithfield Plantation
. His final home Smithfield Plantation
is a member of the U.S. Historical Registry
.
Many other prominent Americans descended from Col. William Preston. He was father or grandfather to Governors, Senators, Presidential Cabinet members, University founders, and military leaders. Most notably among them are William Preston's son James Patton Preston
, who was governor of Virginia from 1816–1819 and helped charter the University of Virginia
, and William Preston's grandson William Ballard Preston
, who was Secretary of the Navy under Zachary Taylor
and later a Confederate Senator. The legacy of leadership and patriotism left by William Preston is very long and storied and makes him a true American hero.
He was memorialized on July 27, 2011 with the Col. William Preston highway in Blacksburg, Virginia
.
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
, and was a Colonel in the militia during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was one of the thirteen signers of the Fincastle Resolutions
Fincastle Resolutions
The Fincastle Resolutions was a statement adopted on January 20, 1775 by thirteen elected representatives of Fincastle County, Colony of Virginia...
, a predecessor to the United States Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
.
Personal Life
William Preston was born on Christmas day 1729 in Newton-Limvady, Ireland. He and his family immigrated to the colonies in 1738 on a ship captained by his uncle James Patton, and they settled in Augusta County, VirginiaAugusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
. He married Susanna Smith on January 17, 1761, and together they had 12 children. He and his family moved to Smithfield Plantation
Smithfield (Blacksburg, Virginia)
Smithfield is a plantation outside Blacksburg, Virginia built from 1772 to 1774 as a home by Col. William Preston. It was the birthplace of two Virginia Governors: James Patton Preston and John B. Floyd...
, in present day Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
, in 1774 and it served as his final home.
Political and Military Life
He was elected to the House of BurgessesHouse of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses was the first assembly of elected representatives of English colonists in North America. The House was established by the Virginia Company, who created the body as part of an effort to encourage English craftsmen to settle in North America...
in 1765 to represent Augusta County
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
and served until the county was divided around 1770. In 1775, Preston was one of the thirteen signers of the Fincastle Resolutions
Fincastle Resolutions
The Fincastle Resolutions was a statement adopted on January 20, 1775 by thirteen elected representatives of Fincastle County, Colony of Virginia...
.
He served in both the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
and American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He was a Colonel for the militia in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. During the French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
, William Preston saved George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's life from an impending Indian attack. During Lord Dunsmore's War of 1774 against the Shawnee Indians, he urged Virginians to join the militia to enact revenge on the Indians and plunder their stock of horses. One of Col. Preston's greatest contribution to the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
was his ability to suppress the Tories
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
(British loyalist) from uprising in Southwest Virginia, which help prevent a civil war from breaking out. He also helped aid in the fight against Lord Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis KG , styled Viscount Brome between 1753 and 1762 and known as The Earl Cornwallis between 1762 and 1792, was a British Army officer and colonial administrator...
and the British in the Carolinas.
Legacy
Col. Preston died during a military muster near Price's Fork, VA. The cause of death is unknown but it is believed to be either a heat stroke or a heart attack. He is buried in the family cemetery located on Virginia TechVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
's campus in Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
near Smithfield Plantation
Smithfield (Blacksburg, Virginia)
Smithfield is a plantation outside Blacksburg, Virginia built from 1772 to 1774 as a home by Col. William Preston. It was the birthplace of two Virginia Governors: James Patton Preston and John B. Floyd...
. His final home Smithfield Plantation
Smithfield (Blacksburg, Virginia)
Smithfield is a plantation outside Blacksburg, Virginia built from 1772 to 1774 as a home by Col. William Preston. It was the birthplace of two Virginia Governors: James Patton Preston and John B. Floyd...
is a member of the U.S. Historical Registry
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Many other prominent Americans descended from Col. William Preston. He was father or grandfather to Governors, Senators, Presidential Cabinet members, University founders, and military leaders. Most notably among them are William Preston's son James Patton Preston
James Patton Preston
James Patton Preston was a U.S. political figure. He served as the 20th Governor of Virginia between 1816 and 1819. He was the brother-in-law of John Floyd and uncle of James McDowell and John Buchanan Floyd....
, who was governor of Virginia from 1816–1819 and helped charter the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, and William Preston's grandson William Ballard Preston
William Ballard Preston
William Ballard Preston was a United States political figure. He served as the U.S. Secretary of the Navy between 1849 and 1850...
, who was Secretary of the Navy under Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
and later a Confederate Senator. The legacy of leadership and patriotism left by William Preston is very long and storied and makes him a true American hero.
He was memorialized on July 27, 2011 with the Col. William Preston highway in Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
.
Further Readings
- The Smithfield Review, Volumes I-XV.
- Johnson, Patricia Givens, William Preston and the Allegheny Patriots. 1976
- Osborn, Richard Charles, William Preston of Virginia, 1727–1783: The Making of a Frontier Elite. UMI Dissertation Services. 1990