George Wythe

Founding Fathers
George Wythe
State	Virginia
Religion	Christian- Episcopalian [1]
Founding Documents	Declaration of Independence

George Wythe (b. 1726 ; d. June 8, 1806 ) is an American Founding Father. He was a lawyer, a vestryman of Bruton Parish Church, Clerk of the committee on Privileges and Elections for the House of Burgesses. Named Attorney General of Virginia by the Royal Governor, and elected to represent Williamsburg at the House of Burgesses until it was dissolved. He was revered as a man on great honor and integrity. America's first Professor of Law at William and Mary College and admitted to no greater love than that of forming young minds.^[2] Wythe was appointed as a delegate of Virginia to attend the Continental Congress that voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence. He was a speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, a Chancellor (Judge of the High Court) of the State of Virginia, and an abolitionist that freed many slaves. It was said that everyone who came into contact with him was very impressed.

Early life[edit]

George Wythe was born in Elizabeth County (Hampton) Virginia to Thomas and Margaret Wythe, a wealthy agricultural family. When George was three-years old his father died. He was tutored by his mother until her death when George was a teenager. He became well versed in the Latin and Greek languages, and made commendable achievements in several of the sciences.^[3] His parent's inheritance was now the property of his eldest brother, who took little interest in George. George went to William & Mary College but dropped out when he could no longer afford schooling. He would study law at the office of a Stephen Dewey. Wythe was admitted to the Virginian Bar at the age of twenty. In 1746, he was appointed clerk to the Committee which formed the rules of conduct and elections in the House of Burgesses. He would be appointed Attorney General by the Royal Governor. In 1755, Wythe was elected to represent Williamsburg at the House of Burgesses. His brother died that same year and he inherited the family farm. Also in 1755, he married Elizabeth Taliaferro of considerable wealth.

In 1761, his most valuable contribution to the new nation was his involvement in education.^[2] He was elected the first Professor of Law to the Board of Visitors at the College of William and Mary for nearly twenty-years. His students included Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay, James Monroe, John Marshall, and several dozen other distinguished public servants.

American Revolution[edit]

George Wythe loathed the Stamp Act. Wythe continued to exert all his influence in favor of the independence of the colonies.^[3] In 1775, he was elected to the Virginia provincial congress and was appointed a delegate of the Continental Congress. Wythe was outspoken and openly supported Richard Henry Lee's plan for independence. He would vote for and sign the Declaration. In 1777, Wythe was elected speaker of the House of Delegates and judge of Chancellory for Virginia.

George Wythe devotion to public service, the American Revolution cost him his great wealth. Cost-cutting and careful management Wythe was able to payoff his debts and preserve his financial independence by combining what was left of his estate with his salary as chancellor.

Constitutional Convention[edit]

At the Constitutional Convention, Wythe was one of the members representing the state of Virginia. The other members of the Virginia delegation to the Convention were John Blair, James Madison, George Mason, James McClurg, Edmund Randolph, and George Washington.

Death[edit]

Later in his life, George Wythe became an abolitionist. This contributed directly to his untimely death, as Wythe freed all his slaves and provided them a means of support until they were able to support themselves. His grandnephew, George Wythe Sweeney, the chief beneficiary of his will schemed to enlarge his own share by poisoning the freed slaves. Subsequently, Wythe apparently drank some coffee that had been laced with arsenic and suffered for two agonizing weeks before passing.^[4] Wythe died in Richmond, Virginia. Sweeney was tried for his crime and he was acquitted.^[3] George Wythe had willed all his books to President Jefferson. His grave is in the yard of St. John's Episcopal Church in Richmond.

Writings[edit]

• "Resolutions of Remonstrance" a strong protest of the Stamp Act sanctioned by the Virginia legislature.

Legacy[edit]

Wythe had a profound impact on the state of Virginia during his life. For this reason, numerous places are named in his honor.

• Wythe County, Virginia
• Wytheville, Virginia
• The Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary
• George Wythe College
• George Wythe High Schools
• George Wythe Elementary

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Colonial Williamsburg George Wythe House

v • d • e Declaration of Independence Grievances of the United States Declaration of Independence Forming Committee Thomas Jefferson • Roger Sherman • Benjamin Franklin • Robert R. Livingston • John Adams The drafting committee presenting the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress, painted by John Trumbull 1817–1819. New Hampshire Josiah Bartlett • William Whipple • Matthew Thornton Massachusetts John Hancock • Samuel Adams • John Adams • Robert Treat Paine • Elbridge Gerry Rhode Island Stephen Hopkins • William Ellery Connecticut Roger Sherman • Samuel Huntington • William Williams • Oliver Wolcott New York William Floyd • Philip Livingston • Francis Lewis • Lewis Morris New Jersey Richard Stockton • John Witherspoon • Francis Hopkinson • John Hart • Abraham Clark Pennsylvania Robert Morris • Benjamin Rush • Benjamin Franklin • John Morton • George Clymer • James Smith • George Taylor • James Wilson • George Ross Delaware Caesar Rodney • George Read • Thomas McKean Maryland Samuel Chase • William Paca • Thomas Stone • Charles Carroll of Carrollton Virginia George Wythe • Richard Henry Lee • Thomas Jefferson • Benjamin Harrison • Thomas Nelson, Jr. • Francis Lightfoot Lee • Carter Braxton North Carolina William Hooper • Joseph Hewes • John Penn South Carolina Edward Rutledge • Thomas Heyward Jr. • Thomas Lynch, Jr. • Arthur Middleton Georgia Button Gwinnett • Lyman Hall • George Walton

v • d • e Constitutional Convention Delegates to the Constitutional Convention by State, those who signed the Constitution are indicated by italic. Massachusetts Elbridge Gerry • Nathaniel Gorham • Rufus King • Caleb Strong Reproduction of painting of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and others signing the U.S. Constitution in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Henry Hintermeister. New Hampshire Nicholas Gilman • John Langdon Connecticut Oliver Ellsworth • William Samuel Johnson • Roger Sherman New York Alexander Hamilton • John Lansing, Jr. • Robert Yates New Jersey David Brearley • Jonathan Dayton • William Houston • William Livingston • William Paterson Pennsylvania George Clymer • Thomas Fitzsimons • Benjamin Franklin • Jared Ingersoll • Thomas Mifflin • Gouverneur Morris • Robert Morris • James Wilson Delaware Richard Bassett • Gunning Bedford, Jr. • Jacob Broom • John Dickinson • George Read Maryland Daniel Carroll • Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer • Luther Martin • James McHenry • John Francis Mercer Virginia John Blair Jr. • James Madison • George Mason • James McClurg • Edmund Randolph • George Washington • George Wythe North Carolina William Blount • William Richardson Davie • Alexander Martin • Richard Dobbs Spaight • Hugh Williamson South Carolina Pierce Butler • Charles Cotesworth Pinckney • Charles Pinckney • John Rutledge Georgia William Few • Abraham Baldwin • William Houstoun • William Pierce Convention Secretary William Jackson The legislature of Rhode Island declined to send delegates to the Convention.