George Wythe
Delegates to the Constitutional Convention
State: Virginia
Age at Convention: 61
Date of Birth: 1726
Date of Death: 1806
Schooling: Informal Education
Occupation: Lawyer, Politician, Professor
Prior Political Experience: Virginia House of Burgesses 1754-1778, Acting Attorney General of Virginia 1754-1755 and 1766-1767, Mayor of Williamsburg 1768, Clerk of the House of Burgesses 1769-1775, Continental Congress 1775-1776,Judge of Virginia High Court of Chancery 1778-1787
Committee Assignments: Rules Committee (Chair)
Convention Contributions: Wythe started off as the chair of the Rules committee, but soon fell to nigh insignificance in the convention. He left early, not signing the Constitution. William Pierce called him “confessedly one of the most learned legal Characters of the present age.”
New Government Participation: After the convention, Wythe continued serving as a Judge of Virginia High Court of Chancery until his death in 1806. He also participated in the Virginia Ratification Convention as a Federalist. He is also noteworthy for mentoring many prominent political figures including future Presidents Jefferson and Monroe, as well as Henry Clay.