XCIII.
XCIII. WILLIAM B. GILES.
XCIII. Governor.
XCIII. March, 1827, to March, 1830.
William Branch Giles, an American statesman, descended
from early colonial settlers, was born in Amelia
County, Virginia, August 12, 1762. Beginning his education
at William and Mary College, he pursued his studies at
Princeton College, New Jersey, from whence he graduated
with distinction in 1781. Embracing the profession of law
he soon obtained a lucrative practice in Petersburg, Virginia,
and in August, 1790, his ability for public life was shown by
his election to the United States House of Representatives.
He began his entrance upon politics as a Federalist, but separated
himself from his party upon the question of establishing
a United States Bank, and allied his future fortunes to the
Democratic standard. In 1798 he declined a seat in Congress
that he might aid James Madison in the General Assembly of
Virginia (where he represented Amelia County), in passing
the celebrated Resolutions of 1798. In 1800 he was again
elected to Congress, where he was one of President Jefferson's
most zealous supporters.
In 1803 Mr. Giles declined a re-election to Congress, and
in August, 1804, was elected by the Executive Council of
Virginia to the United States Senate, to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the resignation of Wilson Cary Nicholas.
Here he took at once the position of Democratic leader, and
held it until 1811, when he openly manifested his opposition
to the administration of President Madison. On January 2,
1811, he was re-elected to the United States Senate by the
Virginia Assembly, but resigned his seat, November 23, 1815,
before completing this term, which did not expire until March
4, 1817. Remaining in retirement from 1815 to 1826, he was
induced to become a member of the Legislature as a delegate
from Amelia County. In this year he was elected by the
General Assembly, Governor of Virginia, which office he
held by annual re-election until 1830. He was a member
of the State Constitutional Convention of 1829-30, and
engaged prominently in the absorbing and momentous debates
of that body. He died December 4, 1830, at his seat,
"The Wigwam," in Amelia County, in the 69th year of his
age.
Mr. Giles married, March 3, 1810, Miss Frances Anne
Gwynn, and their son, Thomas T. Giles, became a distinguished
member of the Richmond Bar; their other children,
connected with various prominent families in Virginia, have
left able and honorable descendants.
Giles County, Virginia, formed in 1806 from the Counties
of Monroe and Tazewell, was named in honor of William
Branch Giles.
