Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/129

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Thomas Jefferson, and his strong political ally. Personally, Senator Mason was also a popular man, esteemed for his integrity and admired for his remarkable ability as an orator. He died in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. May 10, IQP3.

Nicholas, Wilson Gary (q. v.).

Taylor, John, known as "John Taylor of Caroline," was born in Orange county, Vir- ginia, in 1750. His father was James Tay- lor, who married Ann Pollard — a sister of 5- a rah Pollard, who married the celebrated Ldmund Pendleton, president of the famous convention of May. 1776, that de- clared for independence. He was of the

• same distingiiished family as General Zach- ary Taylor. President of the United States. He attended William and Mary College and graduated there in 1770. He studied law. and. settling in Caroline county, began the practice in 1774. He entered the army when the revolutionary war began, and was a colonel of cavalry. He served in the house of delegates from 1779 to 1787. being one of the leading members. About this time he gave up the practice of law and devoted his ample time to politics and agri- culture. In 1792 he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Richard Henry Lee in the United States senate, and was elect- ed to the term that began March 4, 1793,

• but resigned, May 11, 1794; presidential elector in 1797; he was a close friend of Mr. J<:fferson, and, as member of the house of delegates, offered the resolutions of 1798 condemning the alien and sedition laws; appointed to the senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Stevens Thomson Mason, and served from June 4. 1803, until December 7, 1803, when he resigned ; again appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by

the death of James Pleasants, Jr., and was elected later to serve the regular term for six years beginning December 18, 1822, but died at his estate in Caroline county, Au- gust 20, 1824. Mr. Taylor was a prolific political writer, and was the author of "An Inquiry into the Principles and Policy of the Ciovernment of the United States/' 1S14; "Construction Construed and the Constitu- tion \'indicated," 1820; "Tyranny Unmask- ed." 1822; "Xcw \'iews of the Constitution of the United States." 1823. He was also a scientific agriculturist, and in 181 1 was first president of the \'irginia Agricultural Soci- ety. His little books. "Arator," being a scries of agricultural essays, practical and I'Ctlitical. 1818. wa> one of the first Amer- ican books on agriculture. Taylor county. Kentucky, was named in his honor.

Vcnable, Abraham B., son of Nathaniel \enable and Elizabeth Woodson, his wife, was born in Prince Edward county. \'ir- ginia. November 20, 1758. He was gradu- ated at Princeton College in 1780; studied law and practiced in his native county, and from 1791 to 1799 was a representative in Congress from Virginia, and United States senator from 1803 to 1804, when he re- signed and resumed the practice of law in Richmond. He was a friend of Thomas Jefferson; was founder and first president of the Bank of Virginia. He perished in the conflagration of the theatre at Rich- mond, Virginia, December 26, 181 1.

Giles. WiUiam B. fq. v.).

Moore, Andrew, son of David Moore, whose father was of the Scotch-Irish race who emigrated from the North of Ireland and settled in the valley of Virginia, was born at "Cannicello," in Rockbridge coiinty.

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