Famous Virginians

Welcome to the Famous Virginians Page.

Click on the picture to learn more about the Famous Virginian.

A. Linwood Holton, Jr.
  

A. Linwood Holton, Jr., as governor of Virginia, promoted racial equality and appointed more African Americans and women to positions in state government than previous governors.

Oliver W. Hill
 
Oliver W. Hill, a lawyer and civil rights leader, worked for equal rights of African Americans. He played a key role in the Brown v. Board of Education decision.
  
 
 
George C. Marshall
  
George C. Marshall was a military leader who created an economic plan to ensure world peace.
 
  
Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson was a twentieth-century president who wrote a plan for world peace.

 

Maggie L. Walker

First Female Bank President and First African American Bank President in the United States.

Maggie L. Walker 

L. Douglas Wilder

First African American Governor in the United States.

 

L. Douglas Wilder
 
Arthur Ashe

First African American to win the Men’s Singles Tennis Championship. A gifted speaker and author, he wrote about social issues.

Arthur Ashe

Harry F. Byrd
Governor of Virginia that implimented a “Pay As You go” policy for road construction in Virginia.
He opposed the integration of schools with his “Massive Resistance” campaign.

Harry F. Byrd Sr.
 

Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson

The first Battle of Bull Run (or Manassas) was the first major clash of the Civil War. Confederate General Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson played a major role in this battle.

 
Stonewall Jackson

 Robert E. Lee
Commander of the Northen Army of Virginia. General of the Confederate Army. Surrendered the Confederate Army to Ulysses S. Grant April 9, 1865.

Robert E. Lee

 

 John Brown

Abolitionist. Led a raid on a weapons arsenal in Harper’s Ferry Virginia.

 John Brown

 Harriet Tubman

 A former slave who helped slaves escape to the North and supported the Underground Railroad.

Harriet Tubman

 

 

 Nat Turner

Slave who led a a slave revolt against plantation owners in 1831.

 Nat Turner

 

 James Madison

Known as the Father of the Constitution, he kept detailed notes during the constitutional convention. His skill of compromise helped to create the United States Constitution.

  James Madison

George Washington

Known as the Father of Our Country. Became the first president of the United States. Was commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war against the English. He also explored and surveyed the Great Dismal Swamp in the Coastal Plain Region of Virginia.

 George Washington

 

James Armistead Lafayette

African slave during the Revolutionary War who served in the Continental Army and was granted his freedom after the war.

James Armistead Lafayette

 

Jack Jouett
Jack Jouett rode on horseback through the backwoods of Virginia to Charlottesville to warn Thomas Jefferson, then the governor of Virginia, that the British were coming to arrest him and members of the General Assembly 

 

  Photobucket

 

 
 Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. America’s third President. Author of the Declaration of Independence.

  Thomas Jefferson

 

 

 

George Mason

 Author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. This document became the basis of the Bill of Rights. 

George Mason

 Patrick Henry

Inspired colonists by saying “…give me liberty or give me death”

 Patrick Henry

 Pocahontas

American Indian. Daughter of Chief Powhatan. Befriended the Jamestown colonists and helped them survive. She believed they could live in harmony.

 

Pocahontas

 Captain John Smith

Led Jamestown with strong leadership. Intitiated trade relationships with the Powhatan. Emphasized a self-sustaining agriculture. Implemented a forced work program and helped the Jamestown colonists survive.

Captain John Smith