Benjamin Rush Floyd Papers 1850

Access and use

Location of collection:
Wytheville Community College
F.B. Kegley Library
Wytheville Community College
Smyth Hall, Room 103
1000 East Main Street
Wytheville, VA 24382
Contact for questions and access:
POC: William A. “Bill” Veselik
Phone: (276) 223-4876
POC: George Mattis
Phone: (276) 223-4744
Fax: (276) 223-4745

Summary

Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The collection consists of a campaign broadside entitled "To the People of Smyth, Wythe, and Washington," which was printed by the Wytheville Republican by J. A. Bickle. Floyd was a candidate for a seat in the 1850 Virginia Constitutional Convention. In this 15 June 1850 broadside, Floyd supports reforms to the Virginia Constitution including waiver of property requirements for voting and election of officials for all legislative and judicial offices.

Biographical / historical:

Benjamin Rush Floyd was born on 10 December 1811, the son of Gov. John and Letitia Preston Floyd of Smithfield Plantation in Montgomery County, Va. He graduated from Georgetown College in 1832 and practiced law in Wytheville.

Politically active, Floyd served in the General Assembly as delegate (1847-1848) and senator (1857-1858). In 1852, he unsuccessfully ran for a judgeship in the circuit court. He also lost a 1859 U. S. senatorial bid to Elbert S. Martin because of his unpopular support of President Buchanan's veto of the War of 1812 pension bill.

Floyd was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wytheville, Virginia. He died on 15 February 1860.

Acquisition information:
Purchased by the Kegley Library in 1989.
Physical description:
1 item.