Virginia Memory, Library of Virginia
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THIS DAY IN VIRGINIA HISTORY

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April 20, 1703

Virginia (Colony), Colonial Papers, Order of Daniel Finch, 1703 April 20, Accession 36138, State Government Records Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Virginia (Colony), Colonial Papers, Order of Daniel Finch, 1703 April 20, Accession 36138, State Government Records Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Queen Anne Prohibited Gifts to the Governor from the General Assembly

Queen Anne (1665–1714) was the daughter of King James II (1633–1701), and succeeded her brother-in-law, King William III, at his death in 1702. Princess Anne County (which was incorporated into the new city of Virginia Beach in 1963) was named for Anne eleven years before she took the throne. This order authenticated by Daniel Finch, second earl of Nottingham, and bearing the queen's autograph (or sign manual) at the top was sent to Governor Francis Nicholson (1655–1728) and the Council of Virginia, ordering the governor and other chief officers not to accept gifts from the General Assembly. The purpose of the order was to prevent colonial legislatures from tempting royal governors to approve laws the Crown might disapprove.