Who was George Wythe?
George Wythe was the first law professor in America, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He was the mentor to Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, James Monroe, Henry Clay and “enough other Founding Fathers to populate a small standing army,” as Professor Forrest McDonald put it. Biographer Robert Peterson summarized some of Wythe’s major achievements: “Often working quietly behind the scenes in the classroom or in his chambers, Wythe helped lay the foundation for the limited, Constitutional government that brought forth America’s free enterprise system… Teaching both by example and precept, Wythe might be called ‘America’s Teacher of Liberty.’ At the same time, his contribution to the legal profession as America’s first professor of law earns him the title of(The Father of American Jurisprudence.” “Wythe’s chief aim as an educator was to train his students for leadership. In a letter to his friend John Adams in 1785, Wythe wrote
Jim: George Wythe is one of our founding fathers here in Virginia, he is a signer of the Declaration of American Independence. He served briefly at the Constitutional Convention up in Philadelphia, prior to his wife’s death. I know him, more notably, as the first professor of law at the College of William and Mary, which was the first law school here in North America. Also serving as, I would say legal advisor, but law teacher to Thomas Jefferson. Lloyd: In his day, he was very well known. Jim: Yes he was, yes he was. He was very well known as a lawyer, as a great statesman, and, here within the city of Williamsburg, as a great friend to many individuals in the political world. Lloyd: He is less known now, and I’ve always been curious why he sort of faded. Do you have any guess? Jim: Well, I believe, as many of our past and current members of the political world will tell you, that the work that they do should be, I don’t want to say transparent, but should be behind the scenes. He was
Born in 1726, George Wythe (pronounced “with”) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the First Continental Congress and was a Virginia delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He also helped to develop the Bill of Rights. While teaching at the College of William and Mary, he became the first scholar to make American constitutional law the subject of regular instruction. As the personal mentor to Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Henry Clay, John Marshall and many other notable founders of the United States, Wythe was known as America’s “Teacher of Liberty.
Born in 1726, George Wythe (pronounced “with”) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He served in the First Continental Congress and was a Virginia delegate at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He also helped to develop the Bill of Rights. While teaching at the College of William and Mary, he became the first scholar to make American constitutional law the subject of regular instruction.
