St. John's Church

Photograph of St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. This church was the site of Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech made on the fourth day of the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775.

The First Virginia Convention, held prior on August 1, 1774, in Williamsburg, Virginia, was held in response to the numerous infringements on the civil rights of American colonists by the British under King George III and the Virginia royal governor, John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore. The delegates present voted to ban all commerce and debt payments to Britain.

Following this, the Second Virginia Convention at St. John's Church sought to discuss whether or not Virginia should prepare in the event war broke out with Britain. It was here that Patrick Henry, a delegate from Hanover County, delivered his speech to rouse support to arm the Virginia militia, which has been credited as being the catalyst for Virginia sending troops to fight in the Revolutionary War.

The church's rector, Reverend Miles Sedden, was assigned Chaplain at the Second Convention. Several other notable delegates were present, including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Harrison V.