LITTLETON WALLER TAZEWELL was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was awarded a bachelor of arts degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg in 1791, after which he studied law. He was elected to three consecutive terms in the Virginia House of Delegates, serving from 1798 to 1800. He was subsequently elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Marshall, serving from 1800 to 1801. He went on to serve two more terms in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1804 to 1806, and an additional term from 1816 to 1817. He declined appointment as Minister to Great Britain but was elected to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Taylor, serving from 1824 to 1832. He was elected by the state legislature to serve as governor two years later, and his administration was marked by Virginia’s receipt of $400,000 as payment for Revolutionary War claims, as well as by pressure to abolish slavery–an institution that Tazewell condemned. After resigning from office, Tazewell retired to private life.