Robert Beverley was born in Middlesex County, Virginia, the second son of a Cavalier gentleman who had emigrated from Yorkshire in 1663. His father, Maj. Robert Beverley, was a prominent Virginia landowner who took an active part in the suppression of the Virginia civil war known as Bacon's Rebellion. The young Beverley was educated in England but returned to Virginia, upon his father's death, to begin a brief but significant career in colonial government. His first post was that of volunteer scrivener in the office of the Provincial Secretary, Christopher Robinson (a family friend). This position was soon followed by the clerkship of a legislative committee. By 1696 Beverley had held responsible positions as clerk of General Court, clerk of the Council, and clerk of the General Assembly. He became a freeholder of Jamestown and was elected as burgess for the capital during the sessions of 1699, 1700-1702, and 1705-1706. In...