Definition of john randolph in English English dictionary
born June 2, 1773, Prince George county, Va. died May 24, 1833, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S. U.S. politician. In 1799 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served almost continuously until 1829. A noted orator, he was a staunch advocate of states' rights and opposed a national bank and federal protective tariffs. A supporter of slavery, he led the resistance to the Missouri Compromise. His denunciation of Henry Clay for his support of the presidential candidacy of John Quincy Adams led to a harmless duel with Clay (1826)