The Wolf Law Library at William & Mary Law School

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The Wolf Law Library at William & Mary Law School

Academic law library serving the students, faculty, and staff of William & Mary Law School.

09/02/2026

The trial for George Wythe's *alleged* murderer began in 1806. Most believe Wythe's household was poisoned with arsenic by his great-nephew George Wythe Sweeney. Unfortunately, the only witnesses to the deed were Black and barred from testifying. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Death_of_George_Wythe

08/26/2026

The Third Virginia Convention - a body elected to create laws during the Revolutionary War - ended in 1775 and the Wolf Law Library has George Wythe's copy of the

Check out https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Proceedings_of_the_Convention_of_Delegates_for_the_Counties_and_Corporations_in_the_Colony_of_Virginia, or better yet - come into the library to see the volume!

08/19/2026

Did you know that Homer was George Wythe's favorite author? He had multiple copies of 'The Odyssey' including a 1752 translation by English poet Alexander Pope. In honor of the new film, we offer a few illustrations from Pope's version of Homer's epic. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Odyssey_of_Homer

08/12/2026

Born in 1762, William Branch Giles graduated from Princeton then studied law under George Wythe at William & Mary. He became a prominent lawyer then represented Virginia in the U.S. Senate and served as the 24th governor of Virginia. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=William_Branch_Giles

08/05/2026

On August 3, 1769, George Wythe ordered a copy of "Debates Relative to the Affairs of Ireland in the Years 1763 and 1764" from John Norton in London. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Wythe_to_John_Norton,_3_August_1769

The set chronicles Irish resentment to British rule, mirroring the American colonial experience. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Debates_Relative_to_the_Affairs_of_Ireland_in_the_Years_1763_and_1764

07/15/2026

On July 17, 1806, Thomas Jefferson wrote to George Wythe's executor, William DuVal, offering to purchase various items from Wythe's estate, including a watch and seal. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Jefferson-DuVal_Correspondence ,_17_July_1806

Jefferson also asked to borrow a silhouette of Wythe that had been given to Wythe's housekeeper and former slave, Lydia Broadnax. He sent the image to Charles Wilson Peale to have the artist copy it and embellish the copy with features and tints. Peale's version, most likely based on a William Bache silhouette, is not known to still exist. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Jefferson-Peale_Correspondence

07/08/2026

A lawyer, teacher and judge, George Wythe also spent more than 30 years as a politician. He served in various offices in colonial Virginia including clerk of the House of Burgesses, interim Attorney General, and mayor of Williamsburg.

Wythe represented Virginia in the Second Continental Congress and later in the Constitutional Convention. He also served the Commonwealth as the second Speaker of the House of Delegates. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Wythe_the_Politician (Thanks to our intern, Charlie, for writing the Wythe the Politician page!)

07/01/2026

Early July 1776 - where is George Wythe? Not in Philadelphia working on the Declaration of Independence, he's back in Williamsburg contributing to the debates regarding Virginia's new constitution and government. There's even a question about whether Wythe actually signed the Declaration when he returned to Philadelphia later that summer: https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Declaration_of_Independence

We do know Jefferson sent Wythe a draft which is believed to be the draft now at the New York Public Library. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Wythe%27s_Lost_Papers

06/24/2026

in 1806, The Richmond Enquirer published a small notice stating that the General Court of Virginia had elected to wear black arm bands for three months, in memory of George Wythe, who died on June 8th. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Virginia,_June_General_Court,_1806

06/17/2026

In honor of , there's a new exhibit in The George Wythe Room featuring "revolutionary" books and historical revolutions. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=George_Wythe_Room

Address

613 S Henry Street
Williamsburg, VA
23185

Telephone

+17572213260

Website

http://law.wm.edu/

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