author
W. Wirt
A gifted lawyer and vivid writer, he first gained attention with Letters of the British Spy, a lively series of sketches of Virginia society and public speakers. He later became a leading American statesman and one of the country’s longest-serving attorneys general.
1 Audiobook
Stopping 'em with lead
by W. Wirt
About the author
William Wirt (1772–1834) was an American lawyer, author, and statesman. Born in Bladensburg, Maryland, he moved to Virginia, where he built a successful legal career and was admitted to the bar in 1792. He later served as prosecutor in the trial of Aaron Burr and became United States attorney general from 1817 to 1829.
Wirt’s literary career began with Letters of the British Spy, first published in the Virginia Argus in 1803 under the persona of a British traveler observing Virginia life. The essays became popular for their sharp, often satirical portraits of contemporary figures. He also wrote The Rainbow, The Old Bachelor, and the well-known Sketches of the Life and Character of Patrick Henry.
In 1832, Wirt became the Anti-Masonic Party’s presidential candidate, though he was not elected. His writing combined legal intelligence, political experience, and a talent for energetic characterization, giving readers a lively window into early American public life.