Admitted to the bar at the age of 21, he started practicing law in Middlesex and adjoining counties. In 1858, he was elected to the Virginia State Senate and served as a Senator during the American Civil War.
Admitted to the bar at 21 years old, he started practicing law in Middlesex and nearby areas. In 1858, he became a member of the Virginia State Senate and acted as a senator during the American Civil War.