Daniel Parke
| Daniel Parke | |
|---|---|
 Daniel Parke II by John Closterman, oil on canvas, 1706, in the collection of the Virginia Historical Society | |
| Born | September 5, 1664 |
| Died | December 7, 1710 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Politician |
Daniel Parke (5 September 1664 – 7 December 1710) sat on the colonial Virginia Governor's Council from 1695 until 1697.
Life
During the War of the Spanish Succession, Parke served as an aide to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and after the Battle of Blenheim carried news of Marlborough's victory to Queen Anne.
Having won the queen's favour, Parke was the British governor of the Leeward Islands from 1706 to 1710. He was disliked by his subjects, and was accused of corruption and immorality. On 7 December 1710, the citizens rebelled; Parke was dragged from his home in Antigua and murdered.[1]
He was succeeded in the post of Governor by Walter Douglas.
Family
Parke's elder legitimate daughter married John Custis, and his younger married William Byrd II.
His descendants include Daniel Parke Custis, first husband of Martha Washington, and Mary Custis Lee, wife of General Robert E Lee.
References
- ↑ Knight, Thomas Daniel. "Daniel Parke (1669–1710)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
- Miller, Helen Hill (1989). Colonel Parke of Virginia: "The Greatest Hector in the Town". Chapel Hill: Algonquin Books. ISBN 9780912697871.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Johnson, acting |
Governor of the Leeward Islands 1706–1710 |
Succeeded by Walter Hamilton, acting |
|