Upon their marriage while he was in office, she served as the first and sixth First Lady of Virginia during Henry's terms as governor, from 1777 to 1779 and 1784 to 1786.

[4] Upon her marriage to the sitting governor, Patrick Henry, 20-year-old Dorothea became the inaugural First Lady of Virginia from 1777 to 1779, during the American Revolution.

[5] The marriage was regarded as a wise match that helped solidify support for Henry in the Commonwealth, especially given that Dorothea belonged to an old and prominent Virginia family.

[12] In his will, Henry gave his wife Dorothea his Red Hill estate along with 20 enslaved workers of her choosing.

[14] Dorothea died in 1831 at her daughter's home at Seven Islands plantation in Halifax County, Virginia at the age of 75.