Isaac Coles

Who was Isaac Coles?

Isaac Coles was an American planter and statesman from Virginia.

Coles was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1747. He was educated at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg. During the American Revolutionary War, he served as a colonel in the Virginia militia. In 1780 and 1781 as well as 1783-1788, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. As a member of the Virginia Ratifying Convention assembled in June 1788, Coles opposed ratification of the United States Constitution. Nevertheless, he ran for the United States House of Representatives, serving in Congress from 1789 to 1791. He was also elected to the House in 1792 and 1794, serving from March 4, 1793 to March 3, 1797.

Coles died on his plantation, "Cole's Hill", near Chatham, Virginia in 1813 and was buried in the family cemetery there. His son, Walter Coles, also served in the House of Representatives.

A relative with a similar name, Isaac A. Coles served as personal secretary to Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison during their administrations.