Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/159

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Democratic ticket in 1852; elected as a Democrat to the thirty-third and thirty- fourth congresses (March 4, 1853-March 3, 1857) ; elected a member of the state board of public works in 1857; died in Fairmont, West \'irginia, April 27, 1872.

Leake, Shelton Farrar, born in Albemarle county, Virginia, November 30, 1812, son of Dr. Samuel and Sophia (Farrar) Leake, grandson of Capt. Mark and Patience (Mor- ris) Leake, great-grandson of Walter and Judith (Mark) Leake, and great-great- grandson of William Leake, who came from England about 1685, and settled in what is now Gloucester county, Virginia; completed preparatory studies ; taught school for three years ; studied law. was admitted to the bar in 1835 at Charlottesville, Virginia, and commenced practice there; member of the state house of burgesses in 1842; represen- tative in congress from Virginia, 1845-1847; presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1848; elected lieutenant-governor in 185 1 ; three years later was a candidate for governor, but after a very close vote was defeated for the Democratic nomination by Henry A. Wise; was again elected to the national congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861) and served on the committee on manu- factures; took part in the civil war, and at its close withdrew from politics and prac- ticed his profession, in which he was emi- nently successful ; he was a criminal lawyer of great ability, possessing a combination of pathos and pure English and scintillating wit; he married, in 1844, Rebecca Gray; died at his home in Virginia in the year 1884.

Lee, Henry (q. v.).

Lee, Richard Bland, was born at "Lee- sylvania," Prince William county, January

26, 1761, son of Henry Lee, of "Leesylvania," and Lucy Grymes, his wife, and a great- grandson of Richard Lee, the immigrant; pursued English and classical studies in pri- vate schools, and attended William and Mary College; served in the Virginia legis- lature in 1784, and other years, and was a member of the first, second and third con- gresses from March 4, 1789, to March 4, 1795. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen and Mary Parish Collins, of Phila- delphia; died March 12, 1827.

Leffler, Isaac, born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1788: attended public schools, and was graduated from Jef- ferson College, Pennsylvania: studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began practice in Wheeling, Virginia, (now West \'ir- ginia) : member of state house of delegates, 1817-1825; elected to the twentieth congress as a representative from \'irginia (March 4, 1827-March 3, 1829) ; moved to that portion ot Michigan territory that is now Des Moines county, Iowa, in 1835 ; after the cre- ation of Wisconsin territory, April 20, 1836, represented Des Moines county in the first legislature of the new territory, 1836-1837; admitted to the Des Moines county bar, April 15, 1835, and practiced; chief justice of the first judicial tribunal of Des Moines county, April 11, 1836; member of the house or representatives of the territory of Iowa in 1841 ; appointed by President Tyler United States marshal for the district of Iowa, De- cember 18, 1843, confirmed January 16, 1844, and removed by President Polk, December 29. 1845; appointed by President Fillmore receiver of public moneys for the Chariton, Iowa, land district, August 30, 1852. and was removed by President Pierce, March 29. 1853.

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