| 1751. March 16. | Born at Port Conway, King George County, Virginia, at the house of his maternal grandmother. |
| 1751. | Removed to Montpelier in Orange County. |
| 1763. | Sent to school to Donald Robertson in King and Queen County. |
| 1765-9. | Under the private tuition of Rev. Thomas Martin. |
| 1769. | Enters Princeton. |
| 1771. Oct. 7. | Graduates from Princeton. |
| 1772. | Returns to Montpelier. |
| 1773. | At home teaching his younger brothers and sisters. |
| 1774. Spring. | Visits New Jersey and Pennsylvania. |
| 1774. Dec. | Chosen a member of County Committee of Orange. |
| 1775. | Assists in enlisting for defense. |
| 1775. May 9. | Writes the address “To Captain Patrick Henry and the Gentlemen Independents of Hanover.” |
| 1776. April. | Elected a member for Orange County of the Virginia Convention. |
| 1776. May 6. | Takes his seat in the Convention. |
| 1776. May 16. | Appointed on the Committee to draft a Declaration of Rights and Plan of Government for Virginia. |
| 1776. June 10. | Offers his amendment for greater religious liberty. |
| 1776. Oct. 6. | Takes his seat in the House of Delegates. |
| 1776. | Meets Thomas Jefferson. |
| 1777. April. | Loses re-election to the House of Delegates. |
| 1777. Nov. 13. | Elected by the General Assembly to the Governor’s Council. |
| 1778. Jan. 14. | Takes his seat in the Governor’s Council. |
| 1778. | At Williamsburg, lodging with his cousin, Rev. James Madison. |
| 1779. Dec. 14. | Chosen by the General Assembly a representative in the Continental Congress. |
| 1780. March 20. | Takes his seat in the Continental Congress. |
| 1780. Oct. 17. | Instructions to John Jay on “Boundaries and Free Navigation of the Mississippi.” |
| 1780. Nov. | Proposes a discontinuance of emissions of paper money. |
| 1780. Dec. 13. | Requests instructions from General Assembly on the Mississippi question jointly with Bland. |
| 1781. | Still in Philadelphia. |
| 1781. | Receives Benjamin Harrison, “Delegate Extraordinary” from Virginia. |
| 1781. April 16. | Discusses project for applying coercive measures to the States. |
| 1781. April. | Brings subject of Virginia land cession before Congress again. |
| 1781. Oct. | This subject again. |
| 1781. Nov. 13. | Suggests that Virginia compliment Lafayette. |
| 1782. | Still in Philadelphia. |
| 1782. Jan. 7. | The new bank authorized by Congress opened. His distressing personal finances. |
| 1782. May. | The Virginia cession again. |
| 1782. July 5. | Reports instructions to Adams at The Hague. |
| 1782. Sept. | The Virginia cession under debate. He urges compromise. |
| 1782. Nov. 4. | Begins his reports of debates in Congress. |
| 1782. Nov. 12. | Raises objection to the mode of executing the orders of Congress. |
| 1782. Nov. 21. | Moves that Secretary of Foreign Affairs be authorized to keep foreign ministers advised of events in Congress. |
| 1782. Nov. 22. | Reports in favor of ratifying Franklin’s order liberating Cornwallis in exchange for Laurens. |
| 1782. Nov. 26. | Moves that Congress give credit for State emissions of paper money. |
| 1782. Dec. 4. | Appointed on Committee to confer with members of Pennsylvania legislature. |
| 1782. Dec. 7. | Speaks on subject of depreciation of currency. |
| 1782. Dec. 12. | Presents report on publication in a Boston paper of secret proceedings of Congress. |
| 1782. Dec. 16. | Presents answer to Rhode Island’s objections to proposed impost. |
| 1782. Dec. 24. | Communicates to Congress Virginia’s repeal of the impost law. |
| 1782. Dec. 31. | Urges instructions to ministers to endeavor to secure commercial freedom with Great Britain and dependencies. |
| 1783. | Still in Philadelphia. |
| 1783. Jan. 8. | Contends against taxation by valuation of land. |
| 1783. Jan. 13. | Moves application for further loans in Europe. |
| 1783. Jan. 23. | Reports list of books proper for Congress to buy. |
| 1783. Jan. 28. | Moves the necessity of permanent funds. |
| 1783. Feb. 7. | Brings up question of ascertaining valuation of land. |
| 1783. Feb. 21. | Speaks on the subject of general revenue. |
| 1783. Feb. 28. | Speaks on same subject. |
| 1783. March 19. | Speaks on the treaty of peace. |
| 1783. March 22. | Seconds motion to disclose to Spain intended British expedition against Florida confided to Adams. |
| 1783. March 26. | Defends the conduct of the American ministers to negotiate treaty of peace. |
| 1783. March 27. | Advocates assuming expenses of the States in the war. |
| 1783. April 3. | Appointed on committee with Hamilton to report arrangements in consequence of peace. |
| 1783. April 9. | Opposes appointment of a committee on the western country. |
| 1783. April 17. | Reports amendment providing for determining expenses of the States. |
| 1783. April 26. | Address to the States on the subject of revenue. |
| 1783. April 27. | Accompanying James Floyd and his daughter, Catherine, to Brunswick. |
| 1783. May 3. | Returns to Philadelphia. |
Titles (by Subject) 
