BOTETOURT, Norborne Berkeley, a conspicuous actor in American colonial history: b. England 1718; d. Williams bur, Va., 15 Oct. 1770. He was the descendant J of ohn Berkeley, the cavalier, who was en nobled by Charles II in 1660. He was sent to Virginia as royal governor in 1768, just eight years before the Declaration of Independence. He had full instructions from the Crown and directions to assume more dignity than had been the wont of colonial governors, and ac cordingly he paraded the streets of Williams burg with guards, a coach and other requisites of vice-regal pomp. Conflicting duties to the King and the people made his situation most unpleasant. In 1769 the assembly took into consideration the incipient troubles with Eng land, and on 16 May passed firm but respectful resolutions remonstrating against parliamentary taxation and the right claimed to send them to England for trial. So firm were they that Lord -Botetourt summoned the speaker and burgesses before him and dissolved them. The result was that a convention met in a private house and took the incipient steps for the rev olution. The convention did not attempt to
legislate, but simply remonstrated with Parlia ment, sending its resolutions to the other colo nies and to England. Under the influence. of these resolutions Lord Hillsborough wrote a letter to Lord Botetourt, assuring him that it was not the intention of the government to tax the colonies, and that the obnoxious imposts would be withdrawn, which letter Lord Bote tourt communicated to the assembly. All these anticipations, however, were destroyed by the policy of Lord North, who succeeded Charles Townsend, and the promise was not fulfilled in full, the duty on tea being retained. Botetourt was deeply mortified, and soon died of disease aggravated by mental suffering. He was de plored by men of all classes in the colony, and the legislature erected a marble statue to his memory, which is still standing in the College of William and Mary.