Patrick Henry, born at Studley Plantation six miles east of here, was licensed to practice law on April 15, 1760. His awe-inspiring power as an orator was first recognized at Hanover County Courthouse in his charge to the petit jury on December 1, 1766, in the Parson’s Cause case, when he inveighed against the King’s interference regarding the passage of a tobacco tax enacted by duly elected representatives of citizens of the colony of Virginia in the House of Burgesses. Later, on June 29, 1776, he was elected first governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia.