William Branch Giles, an American statesman, born in Amelia co., Va,, Aug. 12, 1762, died at "The Wigwam," in the same county, Dec. 4,1830. He entered Princeton college, N. J., but left it before completing the usual course. He studied law with Chancellor Wythe, was admitted to the bar, and practised for five or six years. In 1790 he was elected by the federal party in the Petersburg district to fill a vacancy in congress, and was several times reelected. His opposition to the bill creating a bank of the United States led to his estrangement from the federal party, and to his affiliation with the democrats. On Jan. 23, 1793, he made in the house an attack upon Alexander Hamilton, then secretary of the treasury, charging him with corruption and peculation. Hamilton vindicated himself triumphantly in a report, and Giles replied by proposing resolutions censuring the secretary for undue assumption of power, and for want of respect for the house. These resolutions were laid on the table by very large majorities. In 1796 Giles strongly opposed the creation of a navy and the ratification of Jay's treaty with Great Britain, and in 1798 the proposed war with France for her outrages on American commerce.

In the latter year he became a mem-ber of the legislature of Virginia, where he cooperated with Madison in procuring the passage of the celebrated resolutions of '98. In 1801 he was again elected to congress. In 1804 he was chosen United States senator, and took at once the position of democratic leader in the senate, and held it till 1811, when he openly manifested his opposition to the administration of President Madison. He abandoned public life in 1815, and remained in retirement till 1826, when he was induced to become a member of the legislature of Virginia, principally" from his .strong opposition to the project of calling a convention to revise the constitution of the state. In the same year he was elected governor, and held the office for three years. The bill for calling a convention was revived and passed at the session of 1827-'8, and Mr. Giles while governor was chosen a member of it. The convention sat in 1829-'30, and he took a distinguished part in its deliberations. He published in 1813

"Political Letters to the People of Virginia," and subsequently various letters.