The New Student's Reference Work/Wirt, William

Wirt, William, was born at Bladensburg, Md., Nov. 8, 1772. He began to practice law in 1792 at Culpeper Court House, Va., but within a few years moved to Charlottesville and thence to Richmond. In 1803 appeared his Letters of a British Spy. He took part in the prosecution of Aaron Burr, and was attorney-general of the United States from 1817 to 1829. In 1832 he ran for the presidency on the ticket of the anti-Masonic party. Wirt is now best remembered as the author of the famous Life of Patrick Henry. He died at Washington, D. C., Feb. 18, 1834. Consult Life by J. P. Kennedy.