Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/338

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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question that they admit of no further dis- cussion." He was prosecuting attorney for the Augusta district in 1808-09. During the war of 1812 he was major of militia, and served till 1815. He then became deputy United States attorney for the western dis- trict of Virginia, and declined a nomination to congress in 1820 and a judgeship in 1824. He was in the state senate in 1836-44, at which date he fell from his horse and re- ceived an injury that compelled his retire- ment from public life. In 1840 he was ap- pointed a visitor to the United States Mili- tary Academy, and he wrote the report of that year. For ten years he was president of the board of directors of the Western Virginia Lunatic Asylum. Mr. Peyton was an active member of the Whig party, op- posed nullification and secession, and fav- ored all schemes for internal improvements and public education. He won a brilliant reputation at the bar. He died in Staunton, Virginia, April 3. 1847.

Clark, James, born in Bedford county, Virginia, in 1779. He removed with his father to Clark county, Kentucky, was edu- cated by a private tutor, studied law in Vir- ginia, was admitted to the bar, and began practice in Winchester, Kentucky, in 1797. He was several times a member of the legis- lature, became judge of the court of appeals in 18 10, and was elected to congress as a Clay Democrat, serving from May 24, 18 13, till 1816. when he resigned. He was judge of the circuit court from 181 7 till 1824, and was again elected to congress as a Whig, serving from December 5, 1825, till March 3, 183 1. He was elected to the state senate in 1832. becoming its speaker, and in 1826 was chosen governor, and served till his

death at Frankfort, Kentucky, August 27, 1839.

Gary, Lett, born in Charles City county, X'irginia, in 1780. He was a negro slave, and at the age of twenty-four was sent to Rich- mond and hired out as a laborer. He was highly intelligent, and with little assistance karned to read and write, and in time came to be a most capable shipping clerk in a tobacco warehouse. In 1807 he became a religious convert, joined a Baptist church, ar.d thenceforward was a leader among his people in religious matters. In 1813 he pur- chased freedom for himself and his two children, paying eight hundred and fifty dollars, a remarkably low price, his master having a deep sympathy for him. In 1822 he went out to Liberia as a member of the colony sent to that country that year through the efforts of William Crane (q. v.), but insisted on paying his own ex- penses. He was an officer of the coloniza- tion society, and in Liberia rendered invalu- able service as pastor, physician, and gen- eral counsellor. On November 8, 1828, while making cartridges for use in an ex- l-tcted foray by slave-traders, he died from ?n accidental explosion.

Cartwright, Peter, born in Amherst coun- ty, Virginia, September i, 1785, son of Peter Cartwright, a revolutionary soldier, who moved his family to Kentucky while the son was a youth. The son lived a wild life to the age of sixteen, when he "came under conviction of sin,'' while attending a camp meeting. He sold a favorite racing horse, gave up gambling, and after three months' struggle professed conversion. He was soon licensed as a local preacher; in 1803, at the age of eighteen, was received into the regu-

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