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Briscoe G. Baldwin
Sessions Served: 1818 - 1842
- Birth Date: January 4, 1789 Birth Place:Winchester, Virginia
- Death Date: May 18, 1852
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Martha Steele Brown
- Children: Three sons and three daughters
- Religion:
- Education:
Winchester Academy
College of William and Mary
Studied law under William Daniel in Cumberland County - Military Service: Served in the Virginia militia; rose to rank of brigadier genera
- Occupation/Profession: Attorney; Judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals; Law school founder and instructor
- Memberships/Affiliations: Whig Party member
Legal educator and founder of a private law school in Staunton - Additional Info: Opened one of the first law schools in western Virginia in 1831; served on the Virginia Court of Appeals from 1842 to 1852; known for clarifying legal doctrines such as adverse possession and rejecting the doctrine of fraud per se; remembered as an eloquent advocate and one of the state’s leading legal minds of the 19th century.
- Bio: Briscoe Gerard Baldwin (4 January 1789–18 May 1852) was an attorney, legal educator, and judge of the Virginia Court of Appeals. Born in Winchester, Virginia, to Cornelius and Mary Briscoe Baldwin, he studied at Winchester Academy. Briefly, he attended the College of William and Mary before reading law under William Daniel in Cumberland County. Admitted to the bar in 1809, he established a prominent legal practice in Staunton. Baldwin represented Augusta County in the House of Delegates from 1818–1820, 1822–1823, and again in 1841–1842. A delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829–1830, he advocated for fairer legislative representation for western counties. In 1831, he founded a law school in Staunton, combining practical legal instruction with active practice. Elected to the Virginia Court of Appeals in 1842, Baldwin served for ten years, noted for his clear reasoning and commitment to justice. He died at his home, Spring Farm, near Staunton, in 1852.
- Other Notable Service and/or Elected Offices: Virginia Constitutional Convention: 1829
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1818-1819 | Augusta | Courts of Justice Executive Expenditures Finance Schools and Colleges |
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| 1819-1820 | Augusta | Courts of Justice Finance Roads and Internal Navigation Schools and Colleges |
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| 1822-1823 | Augusta | Courts of Justice Finance Militia Laws Schools and Colleges |
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| 1841-1842 | Augusta | Whig | Courts of Justice (Chair) Banks |
*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.