Hanover County, with an area of 512 square miles, was formed in 1720 from New Kent and named for the electorate of Hanover. Patrick Henry and Henry Clay were born in this county. The battles of Gaines's Mill in 1862 and Cold Harbor in 1864 were fought there. Henrico County, with an area of 280 square miles, was an original shire formed in 1634. It was named for Henrico Town, founded in 1611 and named for Henry, Prince of Wales. The battles of Seven Pines, Savage's Station, Glendale, and Malvern Hill in 1862 took place in this county.