Wirt, William, 1772-1834

William Wirt was born 8 November 1772 in Bladensburg, Maryland, to Jacob Wirt (d. 1774) and Henrietta Wirt (d. 1779). Orphaned, Wirt fortunately received help from an uncle and from a family friend and received an education. He studied law and settled in Culpeper County, Virginia, where he was admitted to the Virginia bar and practiced in Culpeper and Albemarle Counties where he lived from 1795 to 1799. He moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1800 to continue his practice. He was elected clerk of the House of Delegates. In 1802, he was appointed chancellor of one of the three chancery districts and moved to Williamsburg, Virginia. In 1803, he resigned as chancellor and moved to Norfolk, Virginia, to continue his private law practice. Wirt returned to Richmond in 1806 and continued practicing law. He served as one of the prosecution in the Aaron Burr trial in 1807. In 1817, he was appointed Attorney-General of the United States by President James Monroe (1758-1831) and served for twelve years through Monroe's term and through the term of John Quincy Adams (1767-1848). In 1829, he retired to private life in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1832, Wirt was the presidential candidate of the Anti-Masonic party. Wirt wrote many works including LETTERS OF THE BRITISH SPY and a biography of Patrick Henry. Wirt died in Washington D.C. 18 February 1834, and was buried in the National (Congressional) Cemetery. William Wirt married first Mildred Gilmer (d. 1799) of Albemarle County 28 May 1795. He married second Elizabeth Washington Gamble (1784-1857) of Richmond 7 September 1802, and they had twelve children.

From the guide to the Letters, 1803-1832, (Library of Virginia)

William Wirt, lawyer and author of Richmond, Va., and Baltimore, Md., served as United States attorney general from 1817 until 1829. He wrote Letters of the British Spy (1803) and Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry (1817).

From the description of William Wirt letters, 1816-1820; 1832-1833 [manuscript]. WorldCat record id: 23469832

Philip Lightfoot of Culpeper County, Virginia served as a lieutenant in the Continental Army Artillery from 1778-1781. He was commissioned as lieutenant in the Virginia militia and as captain in the 8th U. S. Infantry Regiment. His heir [Philip Lightfoot, Jr.] put in a claim for his Revolutionary War service pension in 1831 so he was apparently dead by that year.

From the guide to the Philip Lightfoot Papers, 1765-1860, (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)

Author, lawyer, and attorney general of the United States.

From the description of Papers, 1810-1854. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20504824

From the description of Letters, 1805-1828 [microform] 1805-1828. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 181591397

Lawyer, author.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Richmond, to Thomas Jefferson, 1810 Jun. 27. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270588267

Patrick Henry was born in Hanover County, Virginia in 1736. He was largely self-educated, becoming a prominent trial lawyer and great orator. The most famous phrase attributed to him is "Give me liberty or give me death." He was delegate to the House of Burgesses, 1765-1774; the Continential Congress, 1774-1776; and the Virginia provincial convention, 1775. He also served as governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and from 1784 to 1786. Patrick Henry died in 1799.

From the guide to the Patrick Henry Papers, 1778-1927, 1778-1792., (Special Collections, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William and Mary)

U.S. attorney general, lawyer, politician, and biographer.

From the description of William Wirt papers, 1802-1858 (bulk 1802-1834). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70981961

William Wirt (1772-1834), lawyer and author of Richmond, Va., and Baltimore, Md., served as United States attorney general from 1817 until 1829. he wrote Letters of the British Spy (1803) and Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry (1817).

From the guide to the William Wirt Letters, 1816-1820, 1832-1833, (Southern Historical Collection)

American lawyer.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Baltimore, to Luke Tiernan, 1831 Sept. 30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270586773

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Washington, to Philip H. Jones, 1827 Feb. 4. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270588597

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Baltimore, to Samuel l. Southard, 1826 Dec. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270586770

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Washington, to John Coalter in Richmond, 1821 May 8. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270588593

United States Attorney-General, 1817-1829.

From the description of Letter : Washington, to "Dear Sir", 1821 Oct. 20. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22919384

U.S. Attorney General.

From the description of Letter to James Monroe and Monroe's response [manuscript], 1820 April 22. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647835914

William Wirt (1772-1834), a Virginia lawyer and author, was a shrewd social commentator. See DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY 20:418-421 for more information.

Dabney Carr (1773-1837), lawyer and jurist, was a friend of and corresponded with William Wirt for thirty-seven years. Carr became chancellor of the chancery district in Winchester, Virginia in 1812 and in 1824 succeeded to the state supreme court of appeals. See DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY 3:515 for more information.

From the description of Letters : to Dabney Carr, 1803-1832. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122640499

William Wirt, author, lawyer, and Attorney General of the United States (1817-1829). In March of 1831, he argued a case before the Supreme Court as counsel to the Cherokee Nation who sued Georgia for an injunction to prevent the execution of state laws which were intended to lead to the removal of the Indians from Georgia.

Daniel Webster, American lawyer and statesman.

From the description of Letter : Baltimore, Maryland, to Daniel Webster, 1830 Jun 5. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84554554

William Wirt, author, lawyer, and Attorney General of the United States (1817-1829). In March of 1831, he argued a case before the Supreme Court as counsel to the Cherokee Nation who sued Georgia for an injunction to prevent the execution of state laws which were intended to lead to the removal of the Indians from Georgia.

Daniel Webster, American lawyer and statesman.

From the description of Letter : Baltimore, Maryland, to Daniel Webster, 1830 Jun 5. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702150763

Biographical Note

• 1772, Nov. 8: Born, Bladensburg, Md.
• 1792: Admitted to Virginia bar
• 1795: Married Mildred Gilmer (died 1799)
• 1800: Moved to Richmond, Va. Counsel for James Thomson Callender in alien and sedition trial Elected clerk of Virginia House of Delegates
• 1802: Moved to Williamsburg, Va. Married Elizabeth Gamble
• 1803: Published The Letters of the British Spy in the Virginia Argus
• 1807: Prosecutor in Aaron Burr case
• 1808: Returned to Richmond, Va. Elected to Virginia House of Delegates
• 1810: Began series of essays under the title The Old Bachelor
• 1817: Publication of Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry (Philadelphia: James Webster. 427 pp.)
• 1817 - 1829 : U. S. attorney general
• 1829: Moved to Baltimore, Md.
• 1832: Presidential nominee of the Anti-Masonic party
• 1832 - 1833 : Engaged in effort to establish colony of German immigrants in Florida
• 1834, Feb. 18: Died, Washington, D. C.

From the guide to the William Wirt Papers, 1802-1858, (bulk 1802-1834), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)