About

One week from today! As part of our new Give Me Liberty! Placing Patrick Henry in the Fight for Freedom exhibit opening, Scotchtown and Preservation Virginia are honored to host award-winning author, lawyer and early American historian Dr. John A. Ragosta as he discusses his most recent book, For the People, For the Country: Patrick Henry’s Final Political Battle. Published by the University of Virginia Press in 2023, this work centers around Patrick Henry’s role defending the Constitution at the end of his life in 1799.

Dr. Ragosta is a fellow at Virginia Humanities and previously was the Acting Director of the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello. He has taught law and history at the University of Virginia, George Washington University and Hamilton, Oberlin, and Randolph Colleges. Dr. Ragosta’s most recent book received highly favorable reviews in the Wall Street Journal and New York Sun. He is also the author of Religious Freedom: Jefferson’s Legacy, America’s Creed (UVA Press, 2013) and several other works. Ragosta, an award-winning author and frequent commentator, holds both a PhD and a JD from the University of Virginia. Before returning to academia, Dr. Ragosta was a partner at Dewey Ballantine LLP. He is also a beekeeper.

Following Dr. Ragosta's presentation, guests are invited to enjoy light refreshments and visit the brand new museum exhibit at Scotchtown.