Historian makes sense of relationship between John Adams and the Virginia patriots

Jon Kukla, who studies the founders, will speak on "Mr. Henry's Revolution? Can the Founding Make Sense Without John Adams?" in the next Marshall Center lecture Dec. 3.

Kukla is a historian and author of "A Wilderness So Immense: the Louisiana Purchase and the Destiny of America," which is a history of the complex story of western expansion and the competing interests of France, Spain, and the United States. More recently, Kukla wrote the pioneering study of "Mr. Jefferson's Women."

Kukla directed historical research and publishing at the Library of Virginia in Richmond and served as director of the Historic New Orleans Collection, where he created the Williams Research Center. After returning to Virginia in 2007 he oversaw the renewal of Red Hill, the Patrick Henry National Memorial in Charlotte County.

He now resides in Richmond where he is working on a book about Virginia and the American Revolution.

The talk will take place December 3 at 3:30 p.m. in Jepson Hall. The program is free but registration online or by phone at 287-6522 is required.

***

The John Marshall International Center for the Study of Statesmanship is located in Richmond's Jepson School of Leadership Studies. It encourages the development of new courses and faculty seminars about the nature and prospects of statesmanship and hosts lecturers from throughout the world to discuss leadership and provide diverse intellectual perspectives. Directed by leadership studies professors Gary L. McDowell and Terry L. Price, the center is advised by an international board of distinguished scholars and leaders, including honorary chair and former prime minister of Great Britain Margaret Thatcher.