Colonial Virginian leader; born in Suffolk, England, on the 2nd of January 1647; died in Virginia, on the 29th of October 1676; emigrated from England about 1670; in 1672 became a member of the council. He gained popular favor by his eloquence, and in 1676 was chosen by the people to lead them in their war with the Indians. His expedition was declared a treasonable one by Governor Berkeley, who proclaimed Bacon a traitor. He was tried and acquitted. He then demanded of Berkeley a royal commission, so that he might legally act as head of the colonial militia. This Berkeley refused, and immediately Bacon, with the promptness that was a characteristic of the man, marched at the head of an armed force to compel the governor to issue the commission. Upon his arrival in Jamestown he was called a rebel by Berkeley, who, however, was forced to issue commissions to Bacon and his subordinate officers. Berkeley was also compelled to assent to the enactment of a number of laws beneficial to the colony and to the repeal of obnoxious laws. Again the Indians invaded the colony and Bacon set out to suppress them. He was successful in that; but while he was away from Jamestown, Berkeley undid all the good that had been accomplished. Bacon hastily marched to Jamestown, and then began the war that has since been known as Bacon’s rebellion. He attacked Jamestown, compelled Berkeley to evacuate and take refuge with the fleet in the James River. Bacon’s force being too small to do battle with the fleet, he burned the town. Here, however, his career ended, his premature death putting an end to the small war. The laws enacted according to his dictation were known to the people afterward as “Bacon’s laws.”
