author
William Wirt
1772–1834
A gifted early American lawyer and writer, he helped transform the office of U.S. attorney general into a more influential role and later carried that national stature into a presidential campaign.
1 Audiobook
Celebration in Baltimore of the Triumph of Liberty in France
by William Wirt
About the author
Born in Bladensburg, Maryland, in 1772, he was orphaned young and educated in several classical schools before studying law and building his career in Virginia. He became known as an eloquent advocate and public figure, serving in the Virginia House of Delegates and gaining national attention through major legal cases.
His public career reached its height when he served as U.S. attorney general from 1817 to 1829 under James Monroe and John Quincy Adams, a remarkably long tenure for the office. He is often remembered for helping shape the attorney generalship into a more consequential post in the federal government.
He was also an author, with literary interests that set him apart from many political figures of his era, and in 1832 he became the Anti-Masonic Party's nominee for president. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1834, leaving behind a reputation for polished writing, courtroom skill, and public service.