John Ragosta
Dr. John Ragosta is a historian, lawyer, and beekeeper living in Charlottesville, Virginia.
He is currently a historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies (ICJS)at Monticello and a fellow at Virginia Humanities. His work in history has focused primarily on the foundations of religious freedom in America, constitutional law and history, the Revolutionary War, and the early republic.
His most recent book, , was released by Routledge Press in late 2016 and is the basis for a MOOC (massive open online course) being sponsored by the University of Virginia and the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation. He has also written several important books on the development of American religious freedom: (UVA Press, 2013) and (Oxford University Press, 2010). Dr. Ragosta has published on a broad range of topics in historical, legal, and scientific journals as well as often providing OpEds to leading newspapers.
He has taught U.S., constitutional, religious, and Native American history at Hamilton, Oberlin, and Randolph Colleges, and the University of Virginia, and law (international trade and dispute settlement) at the University of Virginia and George Washington University. He has held fellowships with the Jack Miller Center – Colonial Williamsburg (2017), the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities (Robert C. Vaughan Fellow, 2013-2014), and ICJS (Gilder Lehrman Junior Research Fellow, 2010-2011).
His most recent book, Patrick Henry: Proclaiming a Revolution, was released by Routledge Press in late 2016 and is the basis for a MOOC (massive open online course) being sponsored by the University of Virginia and the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation. He has also written several important books on the development of American religious freedom: Religious Freedom: Jefferson’s Legacy, America’s Creed (UVA Press, 2013) and Wellspring of Liberty: How Virginia’s Religious Dissenters Helped Win the American Revolution & Secured Religious Liberty (Oxford University Press, 2010). Dr. Ragosta has published on a broad range of topics in historical, legal, and scientific journals as well as often providing OpEds to leading newspapers.
