Timeline of Gov. Robert Dinwiddie's Administration A timeline of Governor Robert Dinwiddie's administration outlines his term as lieutenant-governor of Virginia from November 1751 to January 1758. View the timeline Glossary of terms used in the letters Definitions of words and phrases used in these letters is meant to aid in examining the documents and their transcriptions. Go to the glossary Suggested Reading A list of sources used in creating this site can be helpful to teachers and students as they explore this topic. Go to suggested reading

Letters and Transcriptions

Images of selected letters and transcriptions are accompanied by questions for students.

• RD to William Fairfax 1/1754

• GW to RD 3/9/1754

• GW to RD 5/9/1754

• GW to RD 5/18/1754

• GW to RD 5/27/1754

• Report from RD on The Present State Of Virginia, 1/1755

• RD to Grand Jury 10/10/1757

About Washington and Dinwiddie

Robert Dinwiddie served as lieutenant-governor of Virginia from November 1751 to January 1758. In colonial Virginia, the lieutenant-governor was the defacto governor, as he was the highest-ranking British official to actually reside in the colony.
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Historical Background

The British and the French both claimed the territory known as Ohio. By the middle of the 1700s, many wealthy Virginians, including Thomas, Lord Fairfax, became interested in the region and formed the Ohio Company. King George II granted the company 500,000 acres of land—provided it could erect and maintain a fort and entice a hundred settlers to the area. The company included a number of powerful English merchants and the future governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie.
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