American Statesman. William Branch Giles was a native of Amelia County, Virginia, the only son of William Giles and his wife, Anne (Branch) Giles. Through his mother he was a third cousin of President Thomas Jefferson. He attended Prince Edward Academy (present-day Hampden-Sydney College), and the College of New Jersey (present-day Princeton University), before studying law with George Wythe at the College of William and Mary. He was admitted to the bar in 1786 and elected to the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 9th District in 1790 in a special election following the death of Theodorick Bland and was reelected three times, serving from 7 December 1790 until 2 October 1798, before temporarily withdrawing from political office, and then serving one more term in the House of Representatives (4 March 1801 until 3 March 1803). He served as a United Senator from Virginia from 11 August 1804 until 3 March 1815. Giles was a member of what historians now identify as the Democratic-Republican Party, although it was known at the time as the Republican Party, and he was initially supportive of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, but would come into conflict with them later over political differences. Giles served intermittently in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Amelia County (1798-1800, 1816-1817, and 1826-1827) and was elected the Governor of Virginia, serving from 4 March 1827 until 4 March 1830. He resided at his residence, the Wigwam, built in 1790, near Lodore in Amelia County, Virginia and it was to the Wigwam he returned following his retirement from political office nine months before his death.
Bio by: CMWJR
Bio by: CMWJR
American Statesman. William Branch Giles was a native of Amelia County, Virginia, the only son of William Giles and his wife, Anne (Branch) Giles. Through his mother he was a third cousin of President Thomas Jefferson. He attended Prince Edward Academy (present-day Hampden-Sydney College), and the College of New Jersey (present-day Princeton University), before studying law with George Wythe at the College of William and Mary. He was admitted to the bar in 1786 and elected to the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 9th District in 1790 in a special election following the death of Theodorick Bland and was reelected three times, serving from 7 December 1790 until 2 October 1798, before temporarily withdrawing from political office, and then serving one more term in the House of Representatives (4 March 1801 until 3 March 1803). He served as a United Senator from Virginia from 11 August 1804 until 3 March 1815. Giles was a member of what historians now identify as the Democratic-Republican Party, although it was known at the time as the Republican Party, and he was initially supportive of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, but would come into conflict with them later over political differences. Giles served intermittently in the Virginia House of Delegates representing Amelia County (1798-1800, 1816-1817, and 1826-1827) and was elected the Governor of Virginia, serving from 4 March 1827 until 4 March 1830. He resided at his residence, the Wigwam, built in 1790, near Lodore in Amelia County, Virginia and it was to the Wigwam he returned following his retirement from political office nine months before his death.
Bio by: CMWJR
Bio by: CMWJR
Bio by: CMWJR
Inscription
WILLIAM BRANCH GILES
GOVERNOR U. S. SENATOR
AUG. 12, 1762 - DEC. 4, 1830
VIRGINIA CONSERVATION COM. 1946
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