Adams Sentinel in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

William Wirt Early Life and Rise in Virginia

The article traces William Wirt’s youth from a gifted pupil under a kind tutor to a budding writer, detailing his school years, the incident with the school usher, and his early experiments in law. It describes his journeys, education under Judge Edwards and in the District of Columbia, and his entry into law at age twenty. It notes his first legal conflict, patronage by Gen. John Minor and Gilbert, and his exposure to high society, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, followed by a descent into dissipation before a turning point inspired by the wandering preacher James Waddel. It highlights his shift toward reform after personal losses, his clerical role in the Virginia House of Delegates, and his later settlement in Norfolk, culminating in a rejuvenated career and rising reputation.