United States Supreme Court Associate Justice. Born in Stafford County, Virginia on April 24, 1784. He was educated by tutors and attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) for one year, from 1802 to 1803. Peter then returned to Virginia and read law in Richmond under Edmund Randolph, who had been Secretary of State and Attorney General under President George Washington. He was admitted to the bar in 1808 and married Lucy, Randolph's daughter and established a law practice. In 1812, he became a member of the Virginia Privy Council, an executive advisory and review body. In 1818, Peter was elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, retaining his Council seat. He occupied both of these positions for the next seventeen years. President Andrew Jackson appointed him to the United States District Court for Eastern Virginia in 1836. President Martin Van Buren nominated Peter to the Supreme Court of the United States on March 3, 1841. The Senate confirmed the appointment on January 10, 1842. Peter remained on the court until his death, in 1860, in Richmond, Virginia. He was 76 years old.
United States Supreme Court Associate Justice. Born in Stafford County, Virginia on April 24, 1784. He was educated by tutors and attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) for one year, from 1802 to 1803. Peter then returned to Virginia and read law in Richmond under Edmund Randolph, who had been Secretary of State and Attorney General under President George Washington. He was admitted to the bar in 1808 and married Lucy, Randolph's daughter and established a law practice. In 1812, he became a member of the Virginia Privy Council, an executive advisory and review body. In 1818, Peter was elected Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, retaining his Council seat. He occupied both of these positions for the next seventeen years. President Andrew Jackson appointed him to the United States District Court for Eastern Virginia in 1836. President Martin Van Buren nominated Peter to the Supreme Court of the United States on March 3, 1841. The Senate confirmed the appointment on January 10, 1842. Peter remained on the court until his death, in 1860, in Richmond, Virginia. He was 76 years old.
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