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Agubernatorial election was held inVirginia on June 12, 1781. The delegate fromYork CountyThomas Nelson Jr. was elected.
The incumbentgovernorThomas Jefferson declined to seek re-election. Jefferson's constitutional term ended on June 2, the date the election of his successor was scheduled to take place. The normal election proceedings were disrupted by theYorktown campaign, however, and theVirginia General Assembly was forced to fleeRichmond to evade the advancingBritish forces. The Assembly relocated toCharlottesville and then toStaunton.[1] Nelson's past military experience made him a desirable candidate in light of the British invasion. Jefferson wrote that the emergency called for "a union of the civil and military power in the same hands."[2] Others felt more drastic constitutional changes were necessary. When the Assembly reconvened at Staunton on June 7, the delegate fromAlbemarle CountyGeorge Nicholas and the delegate fromHenry CountyPatrick Henry suggested that eitherGeorge Washington orNathanael Greene should be appointeddictator. The Assembly rejected this proposal and proceeded to elect a governor on June 12 after five days of delay.[3] Nelson was selected by the majority of members in joint session; the names of the other candidates and the votes tallied were not recorded.[4]
| Party | Candidate | First ballot | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | Percent | |||
| Nonpartisan | Thomas Nelson Jr. | ** | ||
Total | ** | 100.00 | ||
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