Sir William Berkeley

Colonial governor, born in Somerset, SW England, UK. He became governor of Virginia (1642), led militia against the colony's remaining Indian tribes, organized a defence that prevented a Dutch landing on the Virginia coast (1665), and ruthlessly put down a settlers' rebellion (1676).

Sir William Berkeley (pronounced "bark-lee") (1605-July 9, 1677) was a Governor of Virginia, appointed by King Charles I, of whom he was a favorite. The name of his first wife is also not known, but he wed his second wife, Frances (née Culpeper) Stephens Berkeley, in 1670.

He arrived to take up his post in Virginia in 1642, and was a popular administrator. In 1644, he returned to England to fight in the Civil War on the side of the Cavaliers, although he returned to Virginia the following year, in time to organize a force to put down a Native American uprising, which captured Opechancanough against Berkeley's orders, and killed him.

In 1660, he was recalled to government and for fourteen years governed Virginia with no major incident. In 1675, when troubles broke out with the Native Americans on the north frontier, Berkeley refused to allow Nathaniel Bacon and the frontiersmen to take action against all tribes, whether friendly or otherwise, and a form of civil war (given the name of "Bacon's Rebellion") broke out. Before troops sent by Charles II could arrive, Berkeley was able to put down the rebellion, but in such a harsh manner that he was removed from office. Land confiscated from Bacon was granted by Berkeley to recent English immigrant William Randolph, who founded a family of great influence in Virginia politics. The plantation originally encompassed a 2,090 acre experimental farm, and there, Berkeley developed a number of products for export to supplement the Colony's dependence upon tobacco.

Berkeley died in London on July 9, 1677.

It is believed by many historians that the well-known Berkeley Plantation in nearby Charles City County was named in his honor, as were Berkeley County and Berkeley Springs, both of which are now located in West Virginia. (The city of Berkeley, California and several famous colleges are named for Bishop George Berkeley instead.)

Berkeley is often quoted for his (1671) remarks in opposition to education of the general public:

I thank God, there are no free schools, nor printing;