Virginia Memory, Library of Virginia
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THIS DAY IN VIRGINIA HISTORY

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May 04, 1790

Webb-Smith Family Papers, 1703—1929, Accession 34635, Personal Papers Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Webb-Smith Family Papers, 1703—1929, Accession 34635, Personal Papers Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Webb-Smith Family Papers, 1703—1929, Accession 34635, Personal Papers Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

William B. Giles Wrote to Isaac Holmes

This letter from William Branch Giles (1762–1830) to Isaac Holmes, the first clerk of court of Nottoway County, reveals Giles's intention to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. It has been believed by historians that Giles entered the race after the death of the incumbent, Theodorick Bland (1742–1790), but this letter is dated almost a month before Bland's death in June 1790, indicating that Giles had already decided to run for the seat before it became vacant. Giles won the seat in a special election and served from December 1790 to October 1798. He served in the House of Representatives again 1801–1803 and in the U.S. Senate 1804–1815, was governor of Virginia 1827–1830, and a member of the state Constitutional Convention of 1829–1830.