1776 Virginia gubernatorial election

A gubernatorial election was held in Virginia on June 29, 1776. The delegate from Hanover County Patrick Henry defeated Thomas Nelson Jr. and John Page.

The election took place forty-five days after the adoption of the Lee Resolution by the Fifth Virginia Convention declaring the independence of the United Colonies from Great Britain. The Constitution of Virginia had been adopted by the convention the same day and went into effect immediately. The new constitution called for the governor of Virginia to be elected by the votes of the Virginia General Assembly meeting in joint session. The Virginia Convention, as the provisional legislature of the commonwealth, performed this function in the election of 1776. Prior to 1830, the governor served a term of one year, renewable no more than three times in a seven-year period. Henry was reelected four times: twice consecutively in 1777 and 1778, and again in 1784 and 1785, to serve a total of five consecutive terms in office.