Mr Henry was not destined by his parents, or qualified by education, for any public profession. He grew up in the wonted occupations of a husbandman. Although ac customed to read, at leisure seasons, for his improvement and the gratification of an early taste for books, he had not adjusted himself to the design of becoming a public speak er. He always manifested a singular disinclination to court popularity. Ile inherited from nature splendid qualifica tions to become the theme of popular applause, and the deity of democratic idolatry ; notwithstanding, from the commencement of his blazing career, he shrunk from the contact of vulgar associates ; nor did he ever in his life swerve from the majesty of his spirit, the elevation of his sentiments, or the dignity of his deportment, from the con sciousness of his ascendency over the taste and passions of the multitude, attracted by the benevolence of his enthu siastic heart, the ardency of his devotion to liberty, and the spell of his rapturous eloquence.
Virginia is indebted to one of those singular providences, which sometimes exhibit prodigies in the natural and mo ral world, for the ultimate and more accomplished deve lopement of the intellectual powers of Mr Henry. Some time after his debut in the Virginia assembly, he was ap pointed an executor by the will of a deceased neighbour, whose estate happened to be involved in considerable liti gation. In the execution of the task committed to him, he was obliged frequently to be in court ; and to his counsel discovered a wonderful aptitude in business. His wari ness, industry, correct apprehension of the testimony ne cessary to gain his ends, his method in preparing his cases for trial, and unerring anticipation of his antagonists, left nothing to be done by his counsel. Thus he developed the qualities essential to success in a lawyer or advocate. Those who witnessed the display of his talents, in the ca pacity of client, had the generosity to encourage their cul tivation. They persuaded Mr Henry to prepare himself for the practice of the law. Though now considerably for ward in years, and past the time most suitable to lay the foundation of eminence in any profession, he yielded to their persuasion, and actually commenced the study. In a short time he underwent examination, was found duly qualified, and enrolled one of that very honourable and use ful fraternity, to which the people of the United States are much indebted for the great and inestimable blessings they enjoy. It is but justice to the memory of Mr Henry, to state, that he contributed much to enhance the respectabi lity or the profession he selected and pursued ; and, more perhaps than any other individual, to remove from the pub lic mind an unreasonable prejudice against lawyers. He
embarked in the practice immediately after his admission, and, contrary to his own expectation, for he was a man of little vanity, and of great humility in the estimation of him self, advanced suddenly to the first eminence. He became particularly famous as a criminal pleader. He was em ployed in every important case in his usual circuit, and ge nerally on his own terms. Indeed so imposing was his fame, that he was frequently engaged in distant circuits ; and no litigant conceived his cause safe when opposed by the peculiar talents of Mr Henry.
In 1774, he was appointed one of the deputies from Virgi nia in the first congress of the confederated colonies; and was a member of the committee of that body who drew and re ported the petition to the king, which was afterwards voted. In May of the following year, Lord Dunmore, governor of Virginia, caused to be conveyed on board of a transport vessel a quantity of powder from the public magazine at Williamsburgh, to secure it from seizure by the citizens. Mr Henry assembled several volunteer militia companies, of Hanover and Prince William counties, and marched to Williamsburgh, with the avowed determination to compel a restitution of the powder to the magazine, or to enforce payment for it upon a fair valuation. His purpose was completely effected. To avoid the more serious alternative, the receiver general gave a bill for the amount, and the powder, from prudential motives, was retained by the go vernor. The spirit and decision of Mr Henry on this oc casion left no room for hesitation. He submitted a choice of alternatives, which were, restore, lazy for, or fight for the powder.
Lord Dunmore, foreseeing an approaching crisis, forti fied his residence, and issued a proclamation against those concerned in the late enterprise, charging them with re bellious practices. The governor's proclamation only produced a counter-declaration. The people immediately thereupon assembled in county meetings, testified their ap probation of Mr Henry, declared his conduct patriotic, and exchanged pledges to protect him against the vengeance of the governor. Lord Dunmore having departed for Eng land in 1776, Mr Henry was chosen governor of the com monwealth. In this office lie continued several years, using all means in his power to promote the freedom and bide pendence of his country.