SPOTSWOOD, spOts'wild, Alexander, American colonial governor : b. Tangier, Africa, 1676; d. Annapolis, Md., 7 June 1740. He en tered the English army in early youth, fought at the battle of Blenheim, was deputy quarter master-general under the Duke of Marlborough and in 1710 was appointed governor of Virginia. His administration was one of great benefit to the colony, he was the bearer of the writ of habeas corpus, a fact which gained for him the favorable attention of the colony, and his popularity was for a long time unbroken. He greatly assisted the William and Mary College, concluded a treaty with the Six Nations in 1722 which secured for the colonists the terri tory east of the Blue Ridge, south of the Poto mac, and originated the act to make tobacco notes a medium of purchase, introduced various beneficial measures into the colony. His aim was invariably the good of the colony, but his haughtiness won for him in time enemies, and the controversy which arose over church patron age, which he held to be a privilege of his office, enabled his opponents to gain his removal from office in 1722. He continued his residence in
Virginia, served as deputy postmaster-general in 1730-39 and greatly improved mail facilities. He fostered the iron industry, endeavored to promote vine-culture and otherwise evinced an undiminished interest in the colony. In 1740 he was appointed major-general to command an expedition to the West Indies, but died just previous to embarking. His letters were pur chased by the Virginia Historical Society in 1882 and published in their collection as The Official Letters of Alexander Spotswood, Lieu tenant-Governor of Virginia in 1710-17W (1882-85).