Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/49

 UNDER THE CONFEDERACY

ter of Col. Thomas J. Randolph, of "Edge Jlill ;" and in 1874 married, for his second wife. Adelaide, daughter of Col. William H. Prescott, of Louisiana.

Tidball, chief clerk of the navy depart- ment.

Spottswood, W. A., chief of medical and surgical bureau, navy department.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

Baldwin, John Brown, born at Spring Farm, in Augusta county, Virginia, Janu- ary II, 1820, son of Judge Briscoe G. Bald- win, of the supreme court of appeals of Vir- ginia, and of his wife, Martha Steele Brown, daughter of Judge John Brown, chancellor of the Staunton district. His early educa- tion was obtained in the primary schools of Staunton and at the Staunton Academy, taught by Littleton Waddell. At the age of sixteen he entered the University of Vir- ginia, where he remained for three years, imbibing that love of his alma mater, which went with him through life, not only when he was a distinguished member of the board of visitors of that institution, but at all times and on all occasions. After leaving the university, he read law for two years with his father, who was then one of the leaders of the Staunton bar. At the age of twenty-one he began the practice of his profession in Staunton, in partnership with I'.is brother-in-law. the Hon. A. A. H. Stuart. After three years this partnership was dissolved, and John B. Baldwin opened an office of his own. In 1844 he took an active part in behalf of the Whig ticket, and this canvass he acquired a reputation as a debater which remained with him through life. The next vear he was elected to the

legislature, and took an active part, being a strong advocate of the provision that repre- sentation should be based on what was known as the "mixed basis," that is, of per- sons and property, as against what was known as the "white basis," which meant representation upon white persons alone. The result was, his defeat at the next elec- tion. This was a matter of little concern tc him, and he devoted his attention to the practice of his profession. La 1859, upon the death of Judge Samuels, he became a candidate against his friend. Judge William J. Robertson, for the position thus left va- cant upon the supreme court of appeals of \'irginia. The election of Judge Robertson called from him a message of congratulation which was suitably replied to, and showed the pleasant feeling existing between these two eminent lawyers. In i860 he was an ardent advocate of the Bell and Everett ticket, and made a notable speech in behalf of that ticket in the Richmond Club House. In 1861 he was a representative from Au- gusta county to the convention known as the Secession Convention. There he opposed, in what was supposed by many the ablest speech of that body, the ordinance of seces- sion. Another notable speech made by him in that convention was one in opposition to the right of suspension of the writ of habeas c( rl^tis. He was one of the committee sent by the convention to confer with President Lincoln, in the hope of averting hostilities. After the war began, he was appointed by Gov. Letcher as inspector-general of the state volunteers, and upon the state troops being merged into those of the Confederacy, he took the field as a colonel of the Fifty- iccond Regiment. During the operations in West Virginia he was taken with an illness