Nathaniel Bacon stands as a pivotal, albeit controversial, figure in early American history, best known for leading Bacon’s Rebellion in the Virginia Colony. This ambitious English merchant adventurer’s challenge to Governor William Berkeley’s autocratic rule ignited a fiery uprising that briefly reshaped the colonial landscape. His rebellion, though ultimately collapsing after his untimely death, left an indelible mark on the developing colonies, exposing deep-seated grievances that foreshadowed future revolutionary sentiments.
Born on January 2, 1647, at Friston Hall in Suffolk, England, Nathaniel Bacon hailed from a prominent family. He was the only son of influential landowner Thomas Bacon and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Brooke. After his mother’s death in 1649, his father remarried, giving Nathaniel a half-sister. His early education included studies at the University of Cambridge, where he was admitted to St Catharine’s College in 1661. Bacon’s youth was also marked by extensive travel across Europe in 1663-1664, exploring Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands alongside notable figures like naturalist John Ray. Upon his return to England in 1664, he began studying law at Gray’s Inn.
Nathaniel’s personal life took a rebellious turn when he married Elizabeth Duke against her father’s explicit wishes. Following accusations of financial impropriety, his father, Thomas Bacon, provided him with a substantial sum of £1,800, leading young Nathaniel to seek a new beginning in the Virginia Colony. He settled in Jamestown, acquiring two frontier plantations along the James River, likely aided by his cousin, also named Nathaniel Bacon, who was a respected colonial leader and friend of Governor William Berkeley. By 1675, Bacon’s standing in the community had grown sufficiently for him to be appointed to the prestigious Governor’s Council.
Mounting Tensions in Colonial Virginia
The year 1676 proved exceptionally challenging for the residents of Jamestown. Governor Sir William Berkeley’s administration was widely perceived as corrupt and self-serving. He ruled with an iron fist, imposing unjust taxes that plunged many colonists into poverty while monopolizing the highly profitable fur trade with Native American tribes. His Governor’s Council was largely comprised of loyalists, leaving the common people without effective representation or recourse for their grievances. Compounding these issues, Native American tribes began to launch increasing attacks on frontier settlements. Farmers saw their fields destroyed, servants killed, and livestock slaughtered. Despite these escalating dangers, Governor Berkeley steadfastly refused to deploy troops for protection, unwilling to jeopardize his lucrative fur trade agreements.
Adding to the colony’s anxieties were reports of King Philip’s War raging in New England, with tales of horrific massacres reaching Virginia. The Susquehannock Indians and other local tribes grew increasingly agitated, leading to numerous deaths among the frontier settlers. Still, Governor Berkeley remained unresponsive. In desperation, approximately 300 colonists took matters into their own hands, forming their own militia. Yet, Berkeley continued to deny any commission to lead these troops or authorize them to engage the Native Americans.
The Spark of Bacon’s Rebellion
At this critical juncture, Nathaniel Bacon, a wealthy and educated young lawyer whose own frontier plantation had suffered significant losses from Native American raids, approached Governor Berkeley. Bacon implored the Governor to allow him to lead the volunteer troops. Berkeley, however, maintained his stance, asserting that further antagonizing the Native Americans was unwise and that the outbreaks would soon subside. The colonists, knowing better, urged Bacon to defy the Governor’s orders. Though initially hesitant, Bacon visited the volunteer camp, where he was unanimously begged to assume leadership. Swept up by their fervent enthusiasm, he accepted command, and the nascent army immediately set off towards Native American encampments along the Roanoke River.
Upon learning of Bacon’s unauthorized actions, Governor Berkeley was enraged. He hastily assembled a party of loyalists and set out to pursue Bacon, vowing to hang him for leading troops without official orders. However, Berkeley’s party failed to locate Bacon, who was already engaged in skirmishes with Native Americans. Unwilling to venture into the dangerous fray, Berkeley returned to Jamestown, only to be confronted by angry colonists from the lower coast settlements. These settlers openly declared their support for Bacon and demanded that a new, representative Legislature be convened. Frightened by the widespread dissent, Berkeley was forced to concede, promising that a new Legislature would be called without delay.
Clash with Authority and the “Declaration of the People”
Meanwhile, Bacon and his volunteers successfully routed the Native Americans and began their march home, believing the colony was now safe. Bacon’s enthusiastic supporters promptly elected him a member of the new Legislature. As he prepared to take his seat, 40 of his followers accompanied him to Jamestown in a sloop. Aware of their approach, Berkeley captured the sloop using two boats and a ship. However, upon Bacon’s arrival in Jamestown, the Governor dared not exact his planned revenge. The enraged populace rallied behind their leader, compelling Berkeley to allow Bacon to take his place in the Legislature.
That very night, Nathaniel Bacon received a warning: a warrant for his arrest was imminent, and all roads and rivers were guarded to prevent his escape. But Bacon was not easily apprehended. He swiftly mounted a horse and rode through the darkness, putting many miles between himself and his pursuers until he reached the safety of friends. The next morning, Berkeley’s men, arriving to seize Bacon, were astonished and chagrined to find him gone. While they angrily searched, Bacon’s friends rapidly gathered into a mob of 500 strong, threatening to kill the Governor and his allies. A guard was quickly dispatched for Bacon, who hurried back to Jamestown to regain control of the angry frontiersmen.
Berkeley now found himself in a precarious position. The colonists, rather than Bacon, were forcing his hand. The governor was compelled to sign a commission appointing Bacon as a Major-General. Furthermore, Bacon skillfully guided the Legislature to pass new laws aimed at alleviating the suffering of the people. These became known as “Bacon’s Laws,” a testament to the young hero’s influence, standing long after his passing. On July 30, 1676, Bacon and his men issued the seminal “Declaration of the People of Virginia.” This document meticulously criticized Berkeley’s administration, accusing him of levying unfair taxes, engaging in nepotism by appointing friends to high positions, and, most critically, failing to protect settlers from devastating Native American attacks.
The Burning of Jamestown and Bacon’s Untimely Demise
As Bacon and his supporters continued to confront the Governor and the Legislature, Native Americans launched a brutal attack on a small village approximately 20 miles north of Jamestown, murdering its inhabitants in cold blood. General Bacon immediately set out for Native American territory. However, just as he was departing the last frontier town, a messenger arrived with news that Governor Berkeley was raising troops, intending to capture Bacon upon his return. Swiftly, the General turned his army around and began a rapid march back towards Jamestown.
His concerns proved somewhat unnecessary. When Berkeley’s militia discovered they were called to capture Bacon rather than fight Native Americans, they unanimously deserted the field. The elderly governor, overcome with anger and humiliation, reportedly fainted and was forced to flee across the Chesapeake Bay for safety. Upon his arrival, Bacon, at the people’s urging, took charge of the government. He now faced two adversaries: the Native Americans and Berkeley. With the Native Americans seemingly the more immediate threat, having again attacked unprotected frontier settlements in his absence, Bacon promptly set out to provide relief. For many days, General Bacon and his valiant force fought and pursued the Native Americans. Confident that they had inflicted enough damage to quell hostilities for months, they turned homeward.
Upon reaching the frontier settlements, they received alarming news: Governor Berkeley had somehow regained possession of Jamestown. Learning of this, Bacon, who had already disbanded most of his men, found that only 136 remained. Yet, this remnant, though footsore and hungry, was more than willing to confront Berkeley, whom all now regarded as a common enemy. “On to Jamestown!” the men cried. They pushed onward with relentless vigor, quickly rounding the narrow neck of sand connecting Jamestown to the mainland before the Governor even learned of their intentions. Under the cover of night, Bacon and his men erected entrenchments around the town, trapping the Governor and his loyalists. Daily, Bacon’s army swelled with fresh recruits from across the colony, all determined to subdue Berkeley and compel him to recognize the rights of the people. Eventually, Berkeley and his men slipped away down the bay in their vessels, and Bacon, rather than pursue, resolved to ensure the Governor could never again find refuge in Jamestown. On September 19, 1676, he ordered the town to be burned to the ground.
Legacy of a Rebel: The Aftermath of Bacon’s Rebellion
With Jamestown in ashes, nearly the entire Virginia Colony was in open rebellion. The people enthusiastically supported their brave General Bacon, who began efforts to restore order to the fractured government. A new Legislature was formed, with Bacon at its head. However, amidst his successes, Nathaniel Bacon tragically sickened and died from dysentery on October 26, 1676. This sudden loss was a devastating blow to the people, who knew no one could truly fill his shoes. They rightly feared Berkeley’s inevitable return to power and the worsening of their plight. Their fears were realized; Governor Berkeley quickly regained control, seizing the property of numerous rebels, executing 23 men, and imprisoning dozens more.
The colonists’ cries of horror and protest were so vehement that they reached the ears of King Charles II. An investigative committee was dispatched, and upon receiving its report, King Charles II relieved Berkeley of his governorship, ordering him to return to England. The King famously remarked, “That old fool has put to death more people in that naked country than I did here for the murder of my father.” Though Bacon’s Rebellion ultimately failed in its immediate objectives, Nathaniel Bacon and his followers, who instituted the first
