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 The Supreme Court of Appeals of Virginia. was born in the island of Bermuda, where he commenced the study of the law, but migrated to Virginia before the Revolution, and completed his studies at William and Mary College. His urbanity, social dispo sition, and literary attainments introduced him into the best company and most fash ionable circles of the city of Williamsburg;

and his deportment was such as to pro cure him the favor of the leading gentlemen of that place. He studied law and settled in Williamsburg, and upon the breaking out of hostilities with Great Britain took part with his adopted country. About the year 1797 he married Mrs. Randolph, the widow of John Ran dolph of Matoax in Chesterfield County, a lady of exquisite un derstanding and great accomplishments. He removed to Matoax, and for many years there led a life of ease and elegance. He was made a colonel of militia ofthat county; SPENCER and when Cornwallis invaded North Caro lina, called out his regiment and took part in the battle of Guilford Courthouse. Mrs. Frances Tucker died in 1788. Her maiden name was Bland, and she was the mother of the celebrated John Randolph of Roanoke. After the death of his wife, Mr. Tucker returned to Williamsburg to educate his children; and in 1803, upon the death of Edmund Pendleton, was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeals, which office he resigned in 1811. In 1813 he was appointed judge of the United States District Court for the eastern district of Virginia, but re41

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signed that also on account of ill health. As a judge, St. George Tucker was diligent, prompt, and impartial. While his opinions are somewhat technical, they are generally learned and sound. He was put into a special pleader's office in Bermuda, and never entirely got over the bias which the rigid rules of that intricate eighteenth-century science gave to his boyish mind. His second wife was Mrs. Carter, the relict of Hill Car ter of Curratoman, and daughter of Sir Peyton Skipwith. While a judge of the General Court, he was profes sor of law in William and Mary College, and published an edition of Sir William Blackstone's Commentaries, a work of great ability, formerly necessary to every student and practitioner of law in Virginia. He was fond of politics, and wrote a number of tracts upon subjects of importance : one upon that question which was the uppermost ROANE. in American politics until April 9, 1865, — slavery, — in which he took the ground of gradual emancipation as a remedy for the evil. Even at that early day no one was found in Virginia who advocated slavery; the slaveholders simply did not know what to do with the slaves. In private life Judge Tucker was very amiable and much beloved. By his last wife he had no children; but by his first, he had four, two of whom died in his lifetime, and of the two others Henry St. George became President of the Court of Appeals, and Beverley a judge in the State of Missouri. He died in 1827. It