Wythe, George, 1726-1806

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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.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Bookplate collection, 18th and 19th centuries. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 2 -- Letters to Franklin, 1777 January-1778 March American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Adams family. Papers, 1672-1792. Section 17. Virginia Historical Society Library
referencedIn Benjamin Franklin Papers Part 1 -- Letters to Franklin, 1730-1776 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Papers, 1742-1828. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Papers, 1763-1824. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Ledger of Williamsburg, Va., merchant [manuscript], 1784-1789. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Mason, Littlebury. License, 1775 June 10. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Hunter, William, d. 1761. Printing office journal, 1750-1752. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Clay, Henry, 1777-1852. Henry Clay letters, 1825-1851. Newberry Library
referencedIn Brown, Coalter, Tucker Papers (I), 1780-1929. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
referencedIn Snyder, Frank L. [Collection] 1802-1993. University of South Florida, USF Library
referencedIn Humphrey Harwood Account Book, 1776-1794. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Letter to John Page, 1776 October 7. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Randolph, John, 1728-1784. License, 1774 March 3, to Joseph Prentis. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Richard Henry Lee Papers, 1763-1823 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794. Correspondence, 1763-1823. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Shippen, Thomas Lee, 1763-1798. Letters, 1783-1790. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn , 1748-1809 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Virginia. General Assembly. Letter : Williamsburg, Va., to George Rogers Clark, 1778 Jan. 3. Texas Christian University
referencedIn Washington, Bushrod, 1762-1829. Bushrod Washington family papers, 1662-1835 George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Order, 1761 Sept. 10, to the sheriff of Loudoun County, Va. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter, 1780 July 26, Richmond, [Virginia], to [James] Madison, n.p. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. ALS, 1779 February 1 : Williamsburg, to Robert Carter, Nomony Hall. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Adams family. Papers, 1672-1792. Section 6. Virginia Historical Society Library
creatorOf Mason, George, 1725-1792. Plan settled by the Committee of Revisors in Fredricksburg January 1777, 1777 January 13. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Public Hospital for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds. Court of Directors. Minutes, 1770-1801. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Francis Jerdone Account Book, 1751-1752. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Letter to Alexander Donald, 1790 April 20. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Harrison, Mary Bain, collector, d.1989. Collection of manuscript items, 1756-1865. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Opinion on the title of Romancocke Plantation, King and Queen County, Virginia, signed by Wythe on behalf of George Washington [manuscript] 1773 Dec. 15. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Papers, 1664-1842. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Bamberger, Louis, 1855-1944,. Autograph collection, 1683-1929. New Jersey Historical Society Library
referencedIn Petition to the Orange County Court, 1748 May. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Nelson, Hugh, 1750-1800. Assignment of bond, 1789 September 1. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Assignment of Bond, 1789 September 1 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Dawson, Thomas, Dr,. Papers pertaining to Thomas Jefferson or the Jefferson and Randolph family, 1747-1827. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Papers, 1781-1927 1781-1806. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799. Letter to George Wythe : Williamsburg, Va. : LS, 1777 Oct. 22. California Digital Library
referencedIn Petition, 1793 May 9 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Harwood, Humphrey, d. 1788. Account book, 1776-1794. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Alexander Spotswood Papers, 1696-1745, 1646-1830. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Robinson Family Papers, 1684-1915. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Thomas Jefferson papers, 1775-1825, 1775-1825 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Spotswood, Alexander, 1676-1740. Papers, 1646 (1696-1745) 1830. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Prentis family. Papers, 1742-1828. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Letter to William Hunter, 1760-1761. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Marshall, John, 1755-1835. John Marshall autobiography, 1827. William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. The Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson manuscripts, 1705-1827. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Bryan, George, 1860-1930. George Wythe [manuscript], 1922 July 22. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Badeau, Adam. Tucker-Ewell papers, 1770-1893, 1770-1818. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter, 1789 December 14, Eppington, [Chesterfield County, Virginia] to [William Short], n.p. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Allason, William, 1731-1800. Records, 1722-1847. Library of Virginia
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Letter, 1771 June 11, n.p., [to] Robert Carter, Nomini Hall [Westmoreland County, Va.]. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Autograph letter : to Thomas Jefferson, in behalf of the son of Alexander Luarrier, 1801 Jul. 4. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799. Letter : [Williamsburg, Va.] to George Wythe, 1777 May 27. Newberry Library
referencedIn Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809. Proclamations, 1771 October 12-1772 February 8. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Program of exercises in commemoration of George Wythe, William and Marry College [manuscript] 29 March 1940. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Letter to William Hunter, 1760?-1761. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Virginia. High Court of Chancery. Petition, ca. 1799. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Letters and documents of signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1750-1933. Houghton Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. ALS, 1801 October 31 : [Richmond], to Everard Robinson, near the halfway house between York and Hampton. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Documents, 1728-1816, relating to the province of Pennsylvania and to the American Revolution. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Winslow, Richard, fl. 1748. Petition to the Orange County Court, 1748 May. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Coalter, John, 1769-1838. Brown-Coalter-Tucker Papers (I). Group A, 1780-1858. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Batts, Mary. Petition, 1793 May 9. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Parke-Bernet Galleries. Signers of the Declaration of Independence, letters and documents [sales catalog 2569] [manuscript] 1967. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Virginia. General Assembly. Letter : Williamsburg, Va., to George Rogers Clark, 1778 Jan. 3. University of Chicago Library
creatorOf Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799. Papers, 1778-1927 1778-1792. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Lee, Charles, 1758-1815. Autographs and signed legal documents of noted Americans [manuscript], 1790-1824. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. The Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson manuscripts, 1705-1826. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn A Guide to the Dunmore Proclamations, 1771-1772 Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Judicial decisions of George Wythe, undated. Library of Congress
referencedIn John Norton & Sons. Papers, 1750-1902, bulk 1763-1798. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn John Marshall autobiography 1827 Marshall, John autobiography William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Bookplate Collection, 18th-19th century. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. [Document] 1772 Mar. 4 / G. Wythe Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Tazewell family. Papers, 1664 [1771-1805] 1842. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Wythe, George, 1726-1806. Attested copy of the will of John Story of Stratton Major Parish, King and Queen County, Va. and George Wythe Legal Opinion [manuscript] 1717, 1773. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Strauss, Herbert R., 1899-1974,. Herbert R. Strauss collection of autograph letters, 1775-1840. Newberry Library
referencedIn Patrick Henry Papers, 1778-1927, 1778-1792. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
referencedIn Jerdone, Francis, 1721-1771. Account book, 1751-1752. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Baylor family. Papers, 1714-1950 and n.d. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
referencedIn Signers collection, 1770-1826. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
referencedIn Documents, 1728-1816, relating to the province of Pennsylvania and to the American Revolution, 1728-1816 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Hemphill, William Edwin, 1912-. George Wythe the colonial Briton [manuscript] : a biographical study of the pre-revolutionary era in Virginia [microform], 1937. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Carter, Robert, 1728-1804. Papers, 1772-1793. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Papers of the Randolph family of Edgehill [manuscript] 1749(1790-1850)1886. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Patrick Henry Papers, 1778-1927, 1778-1792. Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary
creatorOf Little, Francis,. Francis Little Collection, 1770-1864. William & Mary Libraries
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Hemphill, William Edwin, 1912-. George Wythe, America's first law professor and the teacher of Jefferson, Marshall and Clay [manuscript], n.d. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Monroe, James, 1758-1831. Papers : concerning his law practice in Richmond and Fredericksburg, Virginia, 1780-1804. James Monroe Museum & Memorial Library
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associatedWith Wirt, William, 1772-1834 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Prince George County VA US
Williamsburg VA US
Hampton VA US
Richmond VA US
Subject
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
Occupation
Attorneys general
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Educators
Jurists
Lawyers
Mayors
Planter
State Representative
Activity

Person

Birth 1726-12-03

Death 1806-06-08

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

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