Charles Lynch (politician)

Charles Lynch (1736 – 1796) was an American planter, soldier, and political leader in Virginia during the American Revolutionary War. He is best known for presiding over extrajudicial tribunals during the war to punish Loyalists and other perceived enemies of the Patriot cause. This practice became known as "Lynch Law," although the precise extent of Lynch's personal involvement and responsibility for the severity of the punishments meted out is debated by historians.

Born in Goochland County, Virginia, Lynch served in the Virginia House of Burgesses and later the Virginia General Assembly. He also held a commission as a colonel in the Virginia militia. During the Revolution, with the regular court system disrupted, Lynch and other Patriot leaders in Bedford County organized their own tribunals to try individuals accused of treasonous activities, espionage, and other offenses against the revolutionary government. Penalties included fines, imprisonment, public whippings, and banishment.

While Lynch's actions were initially viewed as necessary measures to maintain order and suppress Loyalist dissent in a time of crisis, they were later criticized as violations of due process and fundamental legal principles. The term "Lynch Law," referring to vigilante justice and extrajudicial punishment, became widespread in the United States and continues to be used to describe acts of violence and mob rule carried out without legal authority.

Lynch defended his actions, arguing that they were necessary to protect the Revolution and prevent anarchy. He was eventually granted amnesty by the Virginia legislature. Despite the controversy surrounding his wartime activities, Lynch continued to be a prominent figure in Virginia politics after the war, serving as a judge and holding other public offices. He died in 1796 and is buried in Lynchburg, Virginia, a city named in honor of his family. His legacy remains complex and controversial, associated both with Patriot zeal and the dangers of unchecked power.