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Rives, William Cabell

soldier, lawyer, state legislator, congressman, United States senator, author, was born May 4, 1793, in Nelson county, Va. He was elected to the legislature of Virginia in 1817-19, from Nelson county, and in 1822 was elected to the same position from Albemarle county. In 1823 he was elected a representative in congress, and served for three successive terms. In 1829 he was appointed minister to France. In 1832 was elected a senator in congress. He was re-elected in 1835, and served until 1839. In 1840 he was elected to the senate, for a third term, where he remained until 1845. In 1849 he was a second time appointed minister to France; and returned to the United States in 1853. He published a history of the Life and Times of James Madison. He took part in the rebellion of 1861 as a member of the socalled confederate congress. He died April 25, 1868, in Castle Hill, Va.