Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/79

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

Tyler, John, governor, December i, 1825- March 4, 1827 (q. v.).

Giles, William Branch, son of William Giles and Anne Branch, his wife, was born ill Amelia county, X'irginia, August 12, 1762. He studied at Hampden-Sidney and Princeton colleges; and from Princeton he went to William and Mary to study law under the great law professor, George Wythe. He began practice in Peters- burg, \"irginia, where he remained for a number of years. In 1791 he was elected to Congress, and served excepting one ses- sion until March, 1803. He was, first, a Federalist, but the proposition to create the United States Bank led to his joining the Republicans. While Alexander Hamilton was secretary of the treasury, Mr. Giles at- tacked him in the house, accusing him of corruption and peculation, and moved reso- lutions censuring Hamilton for arbitrary as- sumption of authority. Giles was opposed tc John Jay's treaty with Great Britain, and took active part in opposition to that in- strument. He was equally against the pro- posed war with France. In 1798 Giles was a member of the Virginia legislature, where he strongly supported the Virginia resolu- tions. In 1801 was a presidential elector. In 1804 he succeeded Wilson Gary Nicho- las in the United States senate; and, being re-elected, served until March 3, 1815, when he resigned. His position in the senate was prominent, being that of a Republican leader, but he was particularly noticeable for his opposition to the Madison adminis- tration. Mr. Giles was in private life from 181 1 until 1825, when he was a candidate for the United States senatorship. but was defeated by John Randolph. The next year he was elected to the legislature, and on

March 4, 1827, became governor, which office he held until March 4, 1830. In his messages at this time he took strong grounds tor resistance against the tariff. Mr. Giles v.as one of the ablest parliamentarians of his time, an accomplished debater, and was generally compared with Charles James Fox. Mr. Giles published a number of writ- ings, among which were "A Speech on the Embargo Laws" (1808) ; "Political Letters to the People of Virginia" (1813) ; a series of letters signed "A Constituent," in the "Richmond Inquirer," in opposition to apian for general public education (1818). He published in 1824 a letter antagonizing President James Monroe and Henry Clay on account of their interest in the South American cause and that of the Greek revo- lution, as also the question of the tariff. Mr. Giles died in Albemarle county, \'ir- ginia, December 4, 1830.

Floyd, John, born in Jefferson county, April 24, 1783, son of Colonel John Floyd, and a descendant of an early Virginia im- migrant. He. attended Dickinson (Pennsyl- vania) College, studied medicine at the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, was graduated in 1806, and settled in Montgomery county, Virginia. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 1807; major of militia in 1808; sur- geon in the Virginia line, 1812, and same year was elected to the house of delegates; was brigadier-general of militia. In 1817 he was elected to Congress, and as a leader in the house wielded a potent influence. He opposed the administration of John Quincy Adams, and aided largely in the election of Jackson. He introduced the first bill for the occupation and settlement of Oregon. He became governor, March 4, 1830. and con- tinued as such till March 4. 1834. In his

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