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Partly on the strength of his victory in "the Parsons' Cause," Henry's visibility within Virginia society and politics rose tremendously. In 1764 he was able to purchase a plantation in Louisa County, and the following spring was elected from that county to the House of Burgesses, taking his seat on May 21, 1765.

Partly on the strength of his victory in "the Parsons' Cause," Henry's visibility within Virginia society and politics rose tremendously. In 1764 he was able to purchase a plantation in Louisa County, and the following spring was elected from that county to the House of Burgesses, taking his seat on May 21, 1765.

[[Image:Bland jones.jpg|200px|thumb|A depiction Henry speaking in the Virginia House of Burgesses.]]

[[Image:Bland jones.jpg|200px|thumb|A depiction of Henry speaking in the Virginia House of Burgesses.]]

==Legislator==

==Legislator==

Henry's speech was successful in persuading the Convention to adopt a more militant stance, and he was soon elected as a delegate to the [[Second Continental Congress]] in Philadelphia that May. Following the [[Battle of Lexington and Concord]], he was among those who supported the formation of the [[Continental Army]] under [[George Washington]], and laying the groundwork for total independence.

Henry's speech was successful in persuading the Convention to adopt a more militant stance, and he was soon elected as a delegate to the [[Second Continental Congress]] in Philadelphia that May. Following the [[Battle of Lexington and Concord]], he was among those who supported the formation of the [[Continental Army]] under [[George Washington]], and laying the groundwork for total independence.

After returning from the Congress, Henry briefly served as commander of the Virginia militia. During this time, he also helped draft Virginia's declaration of an independent government in May 1776, and gave his support to its call for the Congress in Philadelphia to adopt [[The Declaration of Independence|a similar document]]. In June, he was elected as the first state governor of Virginia, serving three consecutive one-year terms. As governor, Henry was committed to upholding Virginia's leadership of the war effort, making regular contributions of men and material to the American armies, as well as launching the 1778 expedition under [[George Rogers Clark]] that liberated the western territory north of the Ohio, and Evan Shelby's 1779 expedition against the [[Cherokees]].  

After returning from the Congress, Henry briefly served as commander of the Virginia militia. During this time, he also helped draft Virginia's declaration of an independent government in May 1776, and gave his support to its call for the Congress in Philadelphia to adopt [[Declaration of Independence|a similar document]]. In June, he was elected as the first state governor of Virginia, serving three consecutive one-year terms. As governor, Henry was committed to upholding Virginia's leadership of the war effort, making regular contributions of men and material to the American armies, as well as launching the 1778 expedition under [[George Rogers Clark]] that liberated the western territory north of the Ohio, and Evan Shelby's 1779 expedition against the [[Cherokees]].  

After leaving office in 1779, Henry briefly retired to private life, moving with his second wife, Dorothea Dandridge (his first wife had died in February 1776), and the rest of his family to Henry County in the Dan River valley of southwest Virginia, establishing the plantation of Leatherwood. In 1780, however, he returned to the state legislature, partly at the behest of others who believed his leadership was necessary in the ongoing military crisis (especially in light of what they saw as the lax administration of [[Thomas Jefferson]], who had succeeded Henry as governor). During the early 1780s, Henry was de facto leader of the legislature, helping to raise more troops, and later supporting an inquiry into the conduct of Jefferson and other public officials. Because of this, Jefferson and Henry became estranged, despite their common political principles, and Jefferson had much to do with downplaying Henry's achievements later.

After leaving office in 1779, Henry briefly retired to private life, moving with his second wife, Dorothea Dandridge (his first wife had died in February 1776), and the rest of his family to Henry County in the Dan River valley of southwest Virginia, establishing the plantation of Leatherwood. In 1780, however, he returned to the state legislature, partly at the behest of others who believed his leadership was necessary in the ongoing military crisis (especially in light of what they saw as the lax administration of [[Thomas Jefferson]], who had succeeded Henry as governor). During the early 1780s, Henry was de facto leader of the legislature, helping to raise more troops, and later supporting an inquiry into the conduct of Jefferson and other public officials. Because of this, Jefferson and Henry became estranged, despite their common political principles, and Jefferson had much to do with downplaying Henry's achievements later.