Congressman, Judge. After becoming a lawyer, he held several local offices in Berryville, Virginia before he was chosen to be a candidate for the congressional elections of 1848; he served the tenth electoral district of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1849 to 1851. The issue of slavery was the primary topic during his term. He was elected judge of the thirteenth judicial circuit of Virginia on January 15, 1851, serving until 1869. During his capacity on the Bench, he pronounced the death sentence for Abolitionist John Brown. Brown was convicted of treason and hanged after his unsuccessful attempt to initiate an armed Slave revolt in 1859 at Harper's Ferry Virginia. After retiring from the Bench, he returned to his law practice.
Congressman, Judge. After becoming a lawyer, he held several local offices in Berryville, Virginia before he was chosen to be a candidate for the congressional elections of 1848; he served the tenth electoral district of Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1849 to 1851. The issue of slavery was the primary topic during his term. He was elected judge of the thirteenth judicial circuit of Virginia on January 15, 1851, serving until 1869. During his capacity on the Bench, he pronounced the death sentence for Abolitionist John Brown. Brown was convicted of treason and hanged after his unsuccessful attempt to initiate an armed Slave revolt in 1859 at Harper's Ferry Virginia. After retiring from the Bench, he returned to his law practice.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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