Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/55

 UNDER THE CONFEDERACY

43

in his profession. Previous to the civil war he was a candidate for attorney-general of Virginia. He was a member of the Con- federate provisional congress, and a repre- sentative in the first regular congress under the Confederate constitution, defeating Fay- ette McAIullen. He died shortly after the war.

Preston, William Ballard, was born at "Smithfield," Montgomery county, Virginia, November 25, 1805, son of Governor James Fatten (q. v.) and Ann (Taylor) Preston. He was a student at the University of Vir- ginia, was admitted to the bar, and practiced successfully in his native state, meantime serving as a representative in the Virginia legislature, and as a state senator. He mar- ried a Miss Redd, of Virginia. He was a Whig representative from Virginia in the thirtieth congress, 1847-49; and secretary of the navy in President Taylor's cabinet, from March 8, 1849, to July 22, 1850. He visited France in 1858-59, as an agent from Vir- ginia, to effect the establishment of a direct line of steamers between Norfolk and Havre, but the plan was defeated by the civil war. He was a delegate from Virginia to the pro- visional Confederate congress that met at Richmond, July 20, 1861, where he still sought to prevent war. He was elected a senator from \'irginia in the first Confed- erate congress, which met February 22, 1862, being succeeded on his death by Allen T. Caperton. He died at "Smithfield." \'ir- ginia, November 16, 1862.

Pryor, Roger Atkinson, born in Dinwiddie county, Virginia, July 19, 1828; was gradu- ated from Hampden-Sidney College in 1845. and from the University of Virginia in 1848 ; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in

1849. After practicing law a short time in Petersburg, he abandoned the profession on account of ill health, and engaged on the editorial staff of the ■■\\'ashington Union," and later on that of the "Richmond En- quirer." In 1854 he was appointed special minister to Greece, returning home in 1857 and again engaging in newspaper work. He was elected as a Democrat to the thirty- sixth congress, to fill vacancy occasioned by the death of William O. Goode, and served from December 7, 1859, to the close of the session, March 3, 1861, and was reelected to the next congress, but did not serve on ac- count of the breaking out of the civil war. He was a member of the provisional Con- federate congress, and of the first Confed- erate States congress. He entered the Con- federate army as colonel, and was promoted to brigadier-general, but resigned and en- listed as a private soldier. He was captured by the Federals in November, 1864, and was confined in Fort Lafayette, but was soon released. After the war he located in New York City, and engaged in the practice of law. He was a delegate to the Demo- cratic national convention of 1876: judge of the New York court of common pleas, 1890-94; justice of New York supreme court, 1894-99, retiring upon reaching the age limit, and resuming his law practice. He was made official referee in 19 12.

Rives, William C, member of second Con- federate congress (q. v.).

Russell, Charles W., member of provi- sional congress and representative in first and second congresses.

Scott, Robert E., son of John Scott and Elizabeth Pickett, his wife, and a descend- ant of Rev. John Scott, M. A., of Dipple