Meriwether Lewis, the son of a
wealthy farmer, was born near Charlottesville, in 1774. At 18 years of age, he relinquished his academic studies
and engaged in agriculture. Two years after, he acted as a volunteer, to suppress the whiskey insurrection, from
which situation he was removed to the regular service. From about 1801 to 1803, he was the private secretary of
Mr. Jefferson, when he, with Wm. Clarke, went in their celebrated exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains.
Mr. Jefferson, in recommending him to this duty, gave him a high character, as possessing courage, inflexible perseverance,
intimate knowledge of the Indian character, fidelity, intelligence, and all those peculiar combinations of qualities
that eminently fitted him for so arduous an undertaking. They were absent three years, and were highly successful
in the accomplishment of their duties. When, shortly after his return, in 1806, he was appointed governor of the
territory of Louisiana, and finding it the seat of internal dissensions, he by his moderation, firmness, and impartiality,
brought matters into a systematic train. He was subject to constitutional hypochondria, and while under the influence
of a severe attack shot himself on the borders of Tennessee, in 1809, at the age of 35. This event was ascribed
to the protest of some bills, which he drew on the public account. The account of his expedition, which he wrote,
was published in 1814. The mother of Mr. Lewis died in this county, only a few years since. She possessed very
strong powers of mind. [Source: pg. 171, Biographies – Historical
Collections of Virginia: containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches,
anecdotes, &c. relating to its history and antiquities, together with geographical and statistical descriptions
to which is appended an historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia, by Henry Lowe, Babcock &
Company, Charleston, S.C., 1845. Transcribed by Robyn Greenlund]
William Wirt, the distinguished
author of the British Spy, who was born at Bladensburg, for a time resided in this county. In 1792, when 20 years
of age, he commenced the practice of law at Fairfax, in the neighboring county of Culpeper. In 1795, he married
the eldest daughter of Dr. George Gilmer, a distinguished physician, and took up his residence at Pen Park, the
seat of his father-in-law, near Charlottesville; and here he was introduced to the acquaintance of Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, and other persons of celebrity. In 1799 his wife died, and he was soon after elected clerk of the House
of Delegates. Having performed the duties of his office two years, he was in 1802 appointed chancellor of the Eastern
District of Virginia, and then took up his residence at Williamsburg; and the game year he married the daughter
of Col. Gamble, of Richmond. He soon after resigned his chancellorship, and at the close of the year 1803 removed
to Norfolk, and entered upon the assiduous practice of his profession. Just before he removed to Norfolk, he wrote
the letters published in the Richmond Argus, under the title of ' the British Spy,' which were afterwards collected
in a small volume, and have passed through many editions. In 1806 he took up his residence in Richmond, and in
the following year he greatly distinguished himself in the trial of Col. Burr. In 1812 he wrote the greater part
of a series of essays, which were originally published in the Richmond Enquirer, under the title of 'The Old Bachelor,'
and have since, in a collected form, passed through several editions. The ' Life of Patrick Henry,’ his largest
literary production, was first published in 1817. In 1816 he was appointed, by Mr. Madison, the U. S. Attorney
for Virginia; and in 1817, by Mr. Monroe, attorney-general of the United States, a post which he occupied with
distinguished reputation until 1829, through the entire administrations of Monroe and Adams. In 1830, he took up
his residence in Baltimore for the remainder of his life. He died Feb. 18th, 1834, at Washington City, in his 62nd
year. As a public and professional man, Mr. Wirt ranked among the first of his time; and in all the relations of
private life, as a man and a Christian, he was must exemplary, and was regarded with singular affection and veneration."
[Source: pg. 171, Biographies – Historical Collections of Virginia:
containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, &c. relating
to its history and antiquities, together with geographical and statistical descriptions to which is appended an
historical and descriptive sketch of the District of Columbia, by Henry Lowe, Babcock & Company, Charleston,
S.C., 1845. Transcribed by Robyn Greenlund]
