Munford, George Wythe, 1803-1882

George Wythe Munford was born 8 January 1803 in Richmond, Virginia to William Munford (1775-1825) and Sally Radford Munford. Educated at the College of William & Mary, Munford was employed by his father who served as clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates. Munford succeeded to the post of clerk upon his father's death in 1825 and held that position in 1852, when he became Secretary of the Commonwealth, serving in that position for 12 years. He also served as clerk of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830. Munford married first, Lucy Singleton Taylor (1802-1834) 20 November 1828, and second, Elizabeth Thorowgood Ellis (1818-1900) 29 November 1838. Munford died in Richmond 10 January 1882 and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery.

George Wythe Munford was trained as a lawyer, receiving a degree from the College of William and Mary. His career was predominantly in state government, serving as clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates for 27 years, until he was elected Secretary of the Commonwealth in 1852. In 1860 he revised the Code of Virginia. Mrs. Thomas Taylor was his mother-in-law. His brother, William P. was secretary and treasurer of the James River and Kanawha Company.

Thomas Rutherford, called the Emigrant, was one of the richest men of his day and a mutual friend of the Munfords and the Taylors. Powhatan Ellis was a U.S. Senator from Mississippi, from 1828-1833 (Jackson's administration). John Thompson Brown was a noted Virginia orator and a lawyer who was influential in his service in the Virginia House of Delegates.