William Fleming (governor)

Not to be confused withWilliam Fleming (judge).

William Fleming
3rdGovernor of Virginia
In office June 4, 1781 – June 12, 1781
Preceded by	Thomas Jefferson
Succeeded by	Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Member of theVirginia Senate from theBotetourt,Washington,Montgomery CountiesandKentuckydistrict
In office 1777–1779
Preceded by	William Christian
Succeeded by	William Christian
Personal details
Born	(1727-02-18)February 18, 1727 Jedburgh,Scotland
Died	August 5, 1795(1795-08-05)(aged 68) Bedford,Hollins,Roanoke County, Virginia
Spouse	Anne Christian
Alma mater	University of Edinburgh
Profession	Physician, soldier, and planter

ColonelWilliam Fleming(February 18, 1727 – August 5, 1795) was an American physician, soldier, politician, and planter who served as a localjustice of the peacein the mountains of southwestern Virginia and Kentucky, as well as in theSenate of Virginiaand briefly acted as theGovernor of Virginiaduring theAmerican Revolutionary War.

Fleming is often confused with his contemporary,Judge William Fleming,who also served in the Virginia legislature (but fromCumberland Countyin the middle of the Commonwealth) and who was a delegate to theContinental Congress.

Early and family life

This William Fleming was born inJedburgh,Scotlandin theKingdom of Great Britainon February 7, 1727.His parents were Leonard and Dorthea Saterthwaite Fleming, who lived onLake Windermereand registered four children in the Hugil Parish records and inEdinburgh.William Fleming studied in Dumfries with Mr. Trotter, then apprenticed with a surgeon for three years in Dumfries and Kirkcudbright, then worked with an apothecary in Kendall, where he survived the measles and reportedly avoided the revolt ofBonnie Prince Charlie,and the disastrous defeat atCulloden.In 1746, Fleming began formal study of medicine at theUniversity of Edinburgh.He then entered theRoyal Navy,supposedly serving as asurgeon's mateand surviving capture and imprisoned by the Spanish. After his release, Fleming resigned from the navy and emigrated to Virginia.

During leave inStaunton, Virginiain 1761, Fleming met Anne Christian (1744–1810), daughter of Col.Israel Christian(a wealthy landowner and the county's representative in theVirginia House of Burgesses) and his wife, Elizabeth Starke. They married in 1763 and soon agreed to care for George Helvick, a three-year-old orphan. Their first son would be named Leonard Israel Fleming to honor his grandfathers. Their longest surviving daughter, variously known as Annie or Nancy C. Fleming Baxter (1801–1870), would marry the president ofWashington Collegeand laterHampden-Sydney College,Rev.George A. Baxter(1772–1841).

Career

During theFrench and Indian War,Fleming was commissioned an ensign inWilliamsburg, Virginia.He initially became the surgeon for Captain McKenzie's company, then recruited for Captain Bell's company, and finally joined Captain Hog's company as its surgeon. Capt. Hog's company was assigned to protectFort DinwiddienearWarm Springsas part ofGeorge Washington'sVirginia Regimentand was told to rendezvous with experienced scouts inAugusta Court Housebefore heading further into theAppalachian Mountains.Fleming served as a surgeon under MajorAndrew Lewisand experienced many attacks by theShawnee,as well as severe clothing and food supply problems during what became known as the "Sandy Creek Expedition,"because they reached the headwaters of theClinch Riverand the streams that form theBig Sandy River.Weathering problems in accessing his promised bonus for serving as the unit's surgeon, Fleming received a promotion to Second Lieutenant the following spring, although Capt. Hog was demoted after complaints atFort Vaux.By fall, surgeon Fleming was assigned to Lewis' headquarters at Fort Dickenson on theCowpasture Rivernear presentMillboro,but his request to transfer to the regular army was ignored. In 1758, he accompanied Major Lewis and Virginia troops northward in what became known as theForbes expedition,after General John Forbes, who assembled many colonial troops atRaystown, Pennsylvanianorth ofFort Cumberlandand attacked the French atFort Duquesne.Fleming continued participating in theAnglo-Cherokee Warin 1759–1761.

Medicine and real estate

Historic marker inStaunton, Virginia.

When the war ended in 1763, Miller settled atStaunton, Virginia,and practiced medicine. Although aPresbyterianrather than a member of theChurch of England,he was elected to the Augusta parish vestry in 1764, indicating his rising social status after his marriage, as well as his community involvement (the vestry was responsible for providing social services in the county). In May 1765, his social position had increased further, and he was elected to his first political office, asjustice of the peace,on the same day as he increased his real estate holdings by purchasing 560 acres from William Beverley.

In 1768 Fleming retired from medicine in Augusta County and moved southward with other settlers and built "Belle Mount" or "Belmont" on land his father-in-law gave him in theRoanoke Valley.These gifts, his medical practice, and his further investments in land individually and through theLoyal Company of Virginiaeventually made Fleming wealthy. In 1769 he acquired his first indentured servant, and the following yearBotetourt Countywas split from what had been the vast Augusta County. Fleming became a justice of the peace in the new county and later justice of the county court, which eventually ordered the establishment of a Court House. Soon, theVirginia General Assemblyauthorized a subdivision around the courthouse which became the Town ofFincastleand the county seat.

Militia service

InDunmore's War(1774), Colonel Fleming led the Botetourt County militia along with other troops under the guidance of the experienced Col. Andrew Lewis at theBattle of Point Pleasant.Fleming continued to lead his men after being shot twice. However, a third, more severe wound forced his withdrawal. The musket ball lodged in his chest was never removed and often caused him pain. The Virginia General Assembly awarded him £500 in compensation. He never fully recovered, so that lingering wound prevented his military service in theAmerican Revolutionary War.

Political career

A patriot nonetheless, Fleming remained active in politics during theAmerican Revolution,representing a western district as a member of theSenate of Virginia.He succeeded his brother-in-lawWilliam Christianand, in turn, was succeeded by him in 1779 so Fleming could address matters in the mountains.However, Fleming continued his political involvement as a member of the Governor's Council.

In January 1781, British forcesinvaded Virginiaand scattered the remaining Virginia legislators fromRichmond,as well as forced governorThomas Jeffersonto flee into the mountains. When the legislature reconvened at Staunton, Jefferson's term had expired, so Fleming, as the senior member of the Virginia Council present, acted unofficially as governor. He served in this capacity from June 4 to 12, when the reconvened legislature electedThomas Nelsonas the next governor. During this brief time, Fleming called out theVirginia militiato oppose the British invasion byBenedict Arnold,Banastre Tarleton,and others. The legislature retroactively legalized his actions.For this reason, Fleming is listed as thethirdgovernor of the commonwealth.

During and after the War for Independence, Fleming headed commissions toKentuckyto settle land disputes and attend to other official business, including auditing the accounts of various officials in the new state's western region as the war ended. In 1780, the General Assembly formally abolished Kentucky County (which he represented alongside neighboring counties) and establishedFayette,Jefferson,andLincoln Counties.In 1784 Fleming attended one of the conventions held inDanville, Virginia,which paved the way for Kentucky's separation from Virginia. His final public service was as one of Botetourt County's two delegates to the 1788Virginia Ratifying Convention(alongsideMartin McFerran); an event held at theRichmond Theatre.Although Fleming had reservations about the new U.S. Constitution, he voted in favor of ratification as his constituents had instructed.He also served on the board of trustees of Washington College (laterWashington and Lee University) and was known for having one of the finest libraries in the western part of the Commonwealth.

Death and legacy

Fleming's health visibly declined by 1792, and he could not visit his Warfield grandchildren in Kentucky. However, he still managed to visitNew Londonin September, as well as arrange for the marriage of his daughter Eliza to Cary Allen in 1794. Col. William Fleming died at his home on August 5, 1795. He was buried in the family graveyard in what decades later becameHollins, Virginia.His widow was buried beside him in 1810 and became the namesake of the Nancy Christian Fleming Chapter of theDaughters of the American Revolution.Their daughter Annie would marry a prominent Presbyterian clergyman, Rev.George Baxter,who presided over Washington College (under the supervision of this Fleming and other trustees), although only his widow ultimately survived theAmerican Civil WarinLexington, Virginia,not very far from where her parents had courted. Their sonSidney Smith Baxterwould become the attorney general of Virginia. Leonard Israel Fleming would marry Nancy Marshal Bacey and live in Kentucky. TheLibrary of Virginiahas this William Fleming's papers as governor and executive officer, as well as those of the judge William Fleming with whom he is often confused.

William Fleming High SchoolinRoanoke, Virginia,is named for him. Their mascot is "The Colonel." The first planned community in Roanoke was named "Belmont" to honor his former plantation, albeit indirectly through the Belmont Land Company (1888), and is now being considered for nomination as a historic district.

See also

• List of U.S. state governors born outside the United States