Wythe, George, 1726-1806

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Wythe, George, 1726-1806

Computed Name Heading

Name Components

Surname :

Wythe

Forename :

George

Date :

1726-1806

eng

Latn

authorizedForm

rda

Genders

Male

Exist Dates

Exist Dates - Date Range

1726-12-03

1726-12-03

Birth

1806-06-08

1806-06-08

Death

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Biographical History

George Wythe (December 3, 1726 – June 8, 1806) was the first American law professor, a noted classics scholar, a Founding Father of the United States and a Virginia judge. The first of the seven Virginia signatories of the United States Declaration of Independence, Wythe served as one of Virginia's representatives to the Continental Congress and the Philadelphia Convention. Wythe taught and was a mentor to Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Henry Clay and other men who became American leaders.

Born into a wealthy Virginia planter family, Wythe established a legal career in Williamsburg, Virginia after studying under his uncle. He became a member of the House of Burgesses in 1754 and helped oversee defense expenditures during the French and Indian War. He opposed the Stamp Act of 1765 and other British taxes imposed on the Thirteen Colonies. He became increasingly alienated from British rule, and represented Virginia in the Second Continental Congress, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. He was also a delegate to Virginia's 1776 constitutional convention and helped design the Seal of Virginia. Wythe was a delegate to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention and served on a committee that established the convention's rules and procedures. He left the convention before signing the United States Constitution to tend to his dying wife. He was elected to the Virginia Ratifying Convention and helped ensure that his home state ratified the Constitution.

Wythe served as a judge for much of his life, first as a justice of the peace and then on the Virginia Court of Chancery. He was also a prominent law professor at the College of William & Mary and took on several notable apprentices. He remained particularly close to Jefferson and left Jefferson his substantial book collection in his will. Wythe became increasingly troubled by slavery in his later years and emancipated 4 of his slaves before his death. After Wythe's death by poisoning in 1806, his grand-nephew was tried and acquitted for his murder. He was buried at St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia.

eng

Latn

External Related CPF

https://viaf.org/viaf/15967477

https://www.worldcat.org/identities/lccn-n80051323

https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n80051323

https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1397321

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Languages Used

eng

Latn

Subjects

1778-1927

Slavery

Slavery

Executors and administrators

Courts

Forms (Law)

Fugitive slaves

Harlem Heights, Battle of, N.Y., 1776

Kip's Bay, Battle of, N.Y., 1776

Land use

Probate law and practice

Nationalities

Britons

Americans

Activities

Occupations

Attorneys general

Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress

Educators

Jurists

Lawyers

Mayors

Planter

State Representative

Legal Statuses

Places

Prince George County

VA, US

AssociatedPlace

Residence

Williamsburg

VA, US

AssociatedPlace

Residence

Hampton

VA, US

AssociatedPlace

Birth

Richmond

VA, US

AssociatedPlace

Death

Convention Declarations

<conventionDeclaration><citation>VIAF</citation></conventionDeclaration>

General Contexts

Structure or Genealogies

Mandates

Identity Constellation Identifier(s)

w6hr4r14

87350538