Civil War Confederate Army Officer. After his family moved to Richmond in 1827. he worked as mechantile clerk for his father while being educated. He undertook the study of law and qualified for the bar in 1842, and served as a volunteer for the Richmond Grays in the Mexican War. In 1849 he resumed the practice of law, partnering with George Wythe Randolph and Isaac Watkins. Specializing in commercial law, he built an extensive and successful practice, and was active in the Virginia militia. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1850, and returned to the General Assembly in 1857 as a member of the Senate of Virginia. During the early days of the Civil War he commanded his militia force. In May of 1861 he was commissioned Colonel of his unit when it entered service with the 15th Virginia Infantry. He served under General John B. Magruder at the Battle of Big Bethel, saw action in the Seven Days' Battles and was severely wounded at Malvern Hill. He was assigned to the War Department to assist General Samuel Cooper. He retired from disability in December 1864. Following the war he resumed his practice of law and was elected to the Richmond City Council in 1866. He was removed from the council in 1869 for failure to subscribe to the test oath. He died after contracting typhoid fever and was buried with full Masonic honors.
Civil War Confederate Army Officer. After his family moved to Richmond in 1827. he worked as mechantile clerk for his father while being educated. He undertook the study of law and qualified for the bar in 1842, and served as a volunteer for the Richmond Grays in the Mexican War. In 1849 he resumed the practice of law, partnering with George Wythe Randolph and Isaac Watkins. Specializing in commercial law, he built an extensive and successful practice, and was active in the Virginia militia. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1850, and returned to the General Assembly in 1857 as a member of the Senate of Virginia. During the early days of the Civil War he commanded his militia force. In May of 1861 he was commissioned Colonel of his unit when it entered service with the 15th Virginia Infantry. He served under General John B. Magruder at the Battle of Big Bethel, saw action in the Seven Days' Battles and was severely wounded at Malvern Hill. He was assigned to the War Department to assist General Samuel Cooper. He retired from disability in December 1864. Following the war he resumed his practice of law and was elected to the Richmond City Council in 1866. He was removed from the council in 1869 for failure to subscribe to the test oath. He died after contracting typhoid fever and was buried with full Masonic honors.
Bio by: George Seitz
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