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Valentine Wood Southall

Member From: 1833 - 1846

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  • Birth Date: 1789-90 Birth Place:"Westham", Goochland County, Virginia
  • Death Date: August 22, 1861
  • Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
  • Spouse: Mary Anne Garrett (1820) - died during childbirth; Martha Cocke (February 1, 1825)
  • Children: daughter by Mary Anne Garrett
    sons and daughters by Martha Cocke
  • Religion:
  • Education: Ogilvies School
  • Military Service:
  • Occupation/Profession: lawyer, admitted to the bar in 1813 and described as one of the ablest lawyers of his time.
  • Memberships/Affiliations: "Junior Volunteers", 1807
    first Secretary of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia.
  • Additional Info: ​Valentine W. Southall was the son of Stephen Southall, a major in the Revolutionary Army, and Martha Southall, daighter of Colonel Valentine and Lucy Henry Wood, sister of Patrick Henry.
    When General Lafayette was entertained at dinner in the Rotunda at UVA on November 15, 1824, Mr. Southall presided.
    Mr Southall was serving as president pro tempore of the Constitutional Conventionon the day the Ordinance of Secession was passed. Mr Southall voted against secession on April 4, 1861 but changed his vote on April 17.
    Speaker of the House, 1840-1842 and 1844-1845
  • Bio: Born at “Westham” Goochland County, Va., 1789 or 1790 Died in Charlottesville, Va., August 22, 1861 Buried in Charlottesville, Va. Valentine W. Southall of Albemarle County was the son of Stephen (a major in the Revolutionary Army) and Martha (Wood) South- all. She was a daughter of Colonel Valentine and Lucy Henry (sister of Patrick Henry) Wood of Goochland County. He was educated at Ogil- vies School, and was admitted to the Albemarle Bar in 1813. He was a member of “junior Volunteers” in 1807; House of Delegates, 1833-34, 1835-36, 1839-42, 1843-46; and the Constitutional Conventions of 1850-51 and 1861 He was one of the ablest lawyers of his day in the Commonwealth. He was the first Secretary of the Board of Visitors of the University of Virginia. When General Lafayette was entertained at dinner in the Rotunda on November IS, 1824, it was Mr. Southall who presided. He was president pro tempore on the day the Ordinance of Secession was passed. Southall voted against secession on April 4, 1861, but changed his vote on April 17. Two or three months later, he died in the little brick office in the front yard of his residence. He married firstly, in 1820, Mary Anne Garrett (died after giving birth to a daughter), daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Minor) Garrett of Louisa County, and secondly, February I, 1825, Martha Cocke, daughter of James Powell and Lucy (Smith) Cocke of Albemarle County, by whom he had both sons and daughters.

    While he was Speaker of the House, the Clerk was GEORGE WYTHE MUNFORD.
  • Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices: Virginia Constitutional Convention: 1850, 1861
    delegate to the Constitutional Conventions of 1850-51 and 1861
Session District District Number Party Leadership Committees
1833-1834 Albemarle Courts of Justice
1835-1836 Albemarle Whig Schools and Colleges
1839 Albemarle Whig Privileges and Elections (Chair)
Banks
Courts of Justice
Schools and Colleges
1839-1840 Albemarle Whig Privileges and Elections (Chair)
Courts of Justice
1840-1841 Albemarle Whig Speaker of the House
1841-1842 Albemarle Whig Speaker of the House
1843-1844 Albemarle Public Libraries (Chair)
Courts of Justice
1844-1845 Albemarle Speaker of the House
1845-1846 Albemarle Schools and Colleges (Chair)

*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.

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