George Wythe: The Founding Father Who Championed Liberty and Law

Early Life and Education

• 💡 George Wythe was taught Greek and Latin by his mother, a Quaker who instilled in him principles of justice, reason, and human dignity.
• 🎓 He studied law and passed the bar at 20, later becoming a mentor to influential figures like Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Marshall.

Advocate for Independence

• ✊ Wythe opposed the Stamp Act and plainly stated that America must declare itself a free people.
• 📜 Although he returned to Virginia to help draft the state constitution and design the state seal before the Declaration of Independence was finalized, he later signed it in September 1776.

Legal and Judicial Contributions

• 🏛️ After signing the Declaration, Wythe served Virginia as speaker, judge, and professor, helping to shape America's first law curriculum.
• ⚖️ He served as one of three judges on the High Court of Chancery and was the first professor of law at William and Mary.
• 🤝 Wythe believed in truth, asking only that his clients tell him the truth; if they didn't, he returned their money.

Personal Beliefs and Legacy

• 🌱 Wythe championed liberty, famously writing in court, "Freedom is the birthright of every human being," and he freed his own slaves.
• 📚 He left his books to Thomas Jefferson and his name to history, with the law itself serving as his monument.
• ⚠️ His life, lived in honor, ended in scandal when he was allegedly poisoned by a greedy nephew.