View source for Wythe the Politician

===House of Burgesses Clerk (1748)===

Beginning in 1699, Williamsburg became the capital of colonial Virginia.<ref>Gruber, C. K. E. (2021, February 17). ''Williamsburg during the Colonial Period''. Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/williamsburg-during-the-colonial-period/#:~:text=Williamsburg%20was%20the%20capital%20of%20the%20Virginia%20colony%20from%201699%20until%201779</ref> Located in Williamsburg, the House of Burgesses met irregularly and sought to imitate the British provincial system and royal hierarchy. <ref>Hemphill, W. E. (1937). ''George Wythe the Colonial Briton''. University of Virginia. pg 53.</ref> George Wythe was appointed October 28, 1748 to clerk to the "largest and most important standing committees."<ref>Ibid pg 53.</ref> He served on "Privileges and Elections" and "Propositions and Grievances."<ref>Ibid pg 54.</ref> Serving as a representative of one’s county in the House of Burgesses was "ambition’s chief point of vantage."<ref>Ibid pg 53.</ref> During this time, Wythe’s job included keeping the minutes of the proceedings of these committees. <ref>Ibid pg 54.</ref> At the young age of twenty-two, his time in the House of Burgesses served as an educational endeavor for Wythe in colonial legislation.<ref>Ibid pg 54.</ref> It also provided Wythe the opportunity to "rub shoulders" with some of the most influential men in the colonies at that time.<ref>Ibid pg 54.</ref> In 1752, Wythe was reappointed clerk for the "Privileges and Elections" and "Propositions and Grievances" committees. <ref>Ibid pg 57.</ref>

===Interim Attorney General (1754)===

The position of Attorney General was considered more prestigious than his seat in the House of Burgesses. Wythe was first appointed Acting, or Interim, Attorney General, by Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie in January of 1754, and served for about one year.<ref>Virginia House of Delegates Clerks Office. (n.d.). House history. https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/2394#:~:text=Acting%20Attorney%20General%20of%20Virginia,Francis%20Fauquier%20sometime%20shortly%20after</ref> During his time as Interim Attorney General, Wythe was involved in many conflicts between the House of Burgesses and the Royal Government.<ref>Hemphill, W. E. (1937). ''George Wythe the Colonial Briton''. University of Virginia. pg 62.</ref> The first dispute Wythe became wrapped up in was the Pistol Fee Crisis of 1753-1754.<ref>Ibid pg. 62.</ref> The Pistole Fee Crisis was a dispute between the House of Burgesses and Lieutenant Governor Dinwiddie.<ref>Olson, C. A. G. (2020, December 7). ''Pistole fee dispute, the''. Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/pistole-fee-dispute-the/.</ref>  Dinwiddie wanted to charge individuals a pistole for land patents that had previously been unenforced in Virginia.<ref>Ibid.</ref> A pistole was worth about 18 shillings at the time, which was about 6 days' wages for a skilled tradesman, according to the UK National Archive.<ref>The National Archives. (2024, February 13). ''Currency converter: 1270–2017''. Currency converter. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/currency-converter/#currency-result.</ref> The controversy was so contentious that Dinwiddie and the House of Burgesses had to go before the Privy Council in London to argue their sides.<ref>Ibid.</ref> The Privy Council, unsurprisingly, sided with Dinwiddie’s pistole fee.<ref>Ibid.</ref> This crisis foreshadows future tax conflicts between the colonies and the Royal Government which would of course surface almost a decade later in 1765 with the Stamp Act.<ref>Ibid.</ref> Wythe only served as Attorney General for a year before he was forced to vacate the position in favor of reinstating Randolph who had believed when he left the position to go to London, it would only be temporary and his job would be waiting for him upon his return.<ref>Hemphill, W. E. (1937). ''George Wythe the Colonial Briton''. University of Virginia. pg 71.</ref> Wythe would take on the role of Acting Attorney General once more, for about six months between November of 1766 and June of 1767, appointed by Lieutenant Governor Francis Fauquier.<ref>Virginia House of Delegates Clerks Office. (n.d.). House history. https://history.house.virginia.gov/members/2394#:~:text=Acting%20Attorney%20General%20of%20Virginia,Francis%20Fauquier%20sometime%20shortly%20after</ref>

===Williamsburg Seat, House of Burgess (1754-1756)===

At the age of 28, Wythe was lifted up from his position of clerk to serve in the Williamsburg Seat of the House of Burgess.<ref>Hemphill, W. E. (1937). ''George Wythe the Colonial Briton''. University of Virginia. pg 59.</ref> The French & Indian War began in May of 1754, so Wythe was immediately thrust into a wartime government.<ref>''French & Indian War Timeline: Lake George NY history''. The French & Indian War Society, Inc. (2020, March 3). https://www.frenchandindianwarsociety.org/timeline/.</ref> Wythe entered the Fourth Session of the House of Burgess (1752-1755).<ref>Hemphill, W. E. (1937). ''George Wythe the Colonial Briton''. University of Virginia. pg 60.</ref> During his time on the Burgess, Wythe worked on an appropriation to aid war efforts in the West.<ref>Ibid pg 61</ref> Wythe worked on a committee specially assigned to ensure the funds the House of Burgess given for the war effort was not exclusively for English use in the West, but that the allocated funds were helping serve the colonies' interests.<ref>Ibid pg 61</ref> Wythe was also appointed to serve on the "Privileges and Elections" subdivision, and the "Propositions and Grievances" subdivision during his time in the Williamsburg Seat.<ref>Ibid pg 62</ref> While these two subdivisions were familiar to him, Wythe was also appointed to serve on the "Courts of Justice," which was a new challenge.<ref>Ibid pg 62</ref>

===William & Mary Representative Spot (1758-1761)===

===Elizabeth County Seat (1761-1767)===

===Clerk of the House (1768-1774)===

===Mayor of Williamsburg (1770-1771)===

===Alderman (1772)===

===Apprentices St. George Tucker (1773)===

==See also==
*[[Wythe the Lawyer]]
*[[Wythe's Judicial Career]]

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Aspects of Wythe's Life]]