George Wythe

@Professor, Life Achievements and Family

George Wythe was one of the Founding Fathers of America and signed the U.S

1726

AmericanLeadersPolitical Leaders
Biography

Personal Details

  • Birthday: 1726
  • Died on: June 8, 18061726
  • Nationality: American
  • Famous: Professor, Leaders, Political Leaders
  • Spouses: Ann Wythe, Elizabeth Taliaferro
  • Birth Place: Hampton, Virginia
  • Gender: Male

George Wythe born at

Hampton, Virginia

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Birth Place

He married Ann Lewis, the daughter of his mentor Zachary Lewis in 1747. She died of an illness a few months later in 1748.

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Personal Life

In 1755, he married Elizabeth Taliaferro. The couple’s only child died in infancy.

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Personal Life

By 1805, Wythe had allowed his sister's grandson, George Wythe Sweeney, to live with him. Sweeney is said to have poisoned Wythe, his housekeeper and her son. Wythe died on June 8, 1806.

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Personal Life

He was the son of Thomas Wythe III and his wife Margaret Walker. His father died while George was only three and he was raised by his mother.

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Childhood & Early Life

Hailing from a family of Quakers, his mother was a well-educated women. She educated her son at home and taught him Greek and Latin. She instilled in him love and respect for all mankind, and encouraged him to develop interest in varied subjects.

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Childhood & Early Life

At the age of 14, he enrolled at the Grammar School at William and Mary. He went to study law under his uncle Stephen Dewey when he was 16. After two years he continued his studies on his own.

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Childhood & Early Life

He gave his bar exam in 1746 when he was only 20. He passed the exam, received his license to practice, and was admitted to the bar in Elizabeth City County in 1746.

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Career

He moved to Spotsylvania County where he met Zachary Lewis, the King’s attorney, who mentored him. He married his daughter Ann who died within 8 months of their marriage. Heartbroken, he returned to Williamsburg.

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Career

On returning to Williamsburg in 1748, he joined Benjamin Waller, a relative of Zachary Lewis, in his law practice.

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Career

In 1748, he was appointed as the clerk of two important committees in the House of Burgesses - Privileges and Elections and Propositions and Grievances. He also continued his law practice.

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Career

He was briefly appointed as the King’s attorney in 1754. A few months later he was chosen to fill the vacancy in the Williamsburg burgess created due to the death of Armistead Burwell.

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Career

As a political leader, his biggest achievement was the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence in September 1776. He had also actively participated in all those events that eventually led to the adoption of the declaration.

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Major Works

He had a long and illustrious career as an educator. He had taught and mentored several young men who went on to become prominent personalities. His most notable students include Thomas Jefferson, Henry Clay, James Monroe, and John Marshall.

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Major Works