Background
Leigh, Benjamin Watkins was born on June 18, 1781 in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. Son of Review William and Elizabeth (Watkins) Leigh.
Leigh, Benjamin Watkins was born on June 18, 1781 in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. Son of Review William and Elizabeth (Watkins) Leigh.
Graduated from College William and Mary, 1802.
Numerous children. Admitted to Virginia bar, 1802. Member Virginia House of Delegates, 1811-1813. Supervised preparation of state legal code, 1819.
Represented Virginia in boundary dispute with Kentucky, 1822.
Member Virginia Constitutional Convention 1829-1830, represented interests of slave-holding planters of Eastern Virginia. Reporter Virginia Supreme Court Appeals, 1829-1841.
Commissioner from Virginia to persuade South Carolina. to withdraw nullification, 1833. Member United States Senate from Virginia, 1834-1836, refused to comply with Virginia Legislature’s instrns. to vote for expunging censure of Jackson, 1836.
Member Virginia House of Delegates, 1811-1813. Member Virginia Constitutional Convention 1829-1830, represented interests of slave-holding planters of Eastern Virginia. Member United States Senate from Virginia, 1834-1836, refused to comply with Virginia Legislature’s instrns. to vote for expunging censure of Jackson, 1836.
Married Mary Watkins. Married second, Susan Colston.