John Randolph

John Randolph, called John Randolph of Roanoke (1773-1833), American legislator, a cousin of Edmund Jennings Randolph, born in Prince George County, Virginia, and educated at several schools, including the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University). In 1799 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and he became a leading opponent of the policy of the Federalist party. Except for brief periods, Randolph served in Congress until 1829. Randolph quarreled with Jefferson over the efforts of the latter to acquire Florida. He opposed both the War of 1812 and the Missouri Compromise, and he sided against President Andrew Jackson on the question of nullification. He was a member of the U.S. Senate from 1825 to 1827; in 1830 he was appointed minister to Russia. Randolph's will provided for the emancipation and support of his 400 slaves.