About

Join us for a conversation with retired historian and author Brent Tarter on his latest book, "Virginia’s Forgotten Founder: The World of Robert Carter Nicholas." Study the American Revolution and you might miss the name Robert Carter Nicholas; study Robert Carter Nicholas and you will see the entire Revolution. This is the first biography of the Virginia patriot who served in the House of Burgesses and is widely remembered as an opponent of Patrick Henry’s - though the reality is more complicated.

In reconstructing Nicholas’s life, Tarter recovers late colonial Virginia society in all of its complexity, showing how men and women of the upper classes lived; how they depended on slavery for their wealth and social status; how they were surrounded by enslaved people almost all of the time; how they brought up and educated their children; how the complex international tobacco economy operated; and how the institutions of government functioned.

The life of Robert Carter Nicholas uniquely illustrates how a decade of profoundly important challenges and changes culminated in the decision of elite leaders - who at first glance appear to have had nothing to gain and much to lose by risking a revolution - to vote for independence from Great Britain in 1776.

Tarter is a founding editor of the Library of Virginia’s "Dictionary of Virginia Biography" project. He will be joined in conversation by historian Jon Kukla.

A book signing will follow the program. This event is part of the Library’s programming commemorating Virginia's role in the 250th anniversary of American independence.

This is a free event, but registration is required. Limited free parking is available underneath the Library at 800 East Broad Street. For more information, contact education@lva.virginia.gov