William H. Cabell

William H. Cabell (December 16, 1772January 12, 1853) was a Virginia lawyer, politician, plantation owner, and judge aligned with the Democratic-Republican party. He served as a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, as Governor of Virginia, and as a judge on what later became the Virginia Supreme Court. Cabell adopted his middle initial in 1795which did not stand for a nameto distinguish himself from other William Cabells, including his uncle, William Cabell Sr. Early life Cabell was born at "Boston Hill" in Cumberland County in the Colony of Virginia on December 16, 1772. The eldest of the three surviving sons of Colonel (and burgess) Nicholas Cabell (1750-1803) and Hannah Carrington Cabel (1751-1817), both of the First Families of Virginia. His grandfather, Dr. William Cabell, had emigrated from Britain to Virginia and moved westward along the James River into Goochland County with his family. Nicholas was the youngest son (by his second wife). Through his father, Cabell was descended from Henry Daubeney, 1st Earl of Bridgewater, Giles Daubeney, 1st Baron Daubeney and Sir Giles Daubeney of England. Through his mother, he was descended from John Strangways. His uncles John Cabell, Joseph Cabell, and William Cabell also became prominent planters and government officials in the upper James River watershed, in what became Albemarle County, then Buckingham County and Amherst County in grandfather Dr. Cabell's lifetime. Nicholas Cabell inherited the Liberty Hall plantation where his grandfather died, and also had sons Joseph Carrington Cabell (who helped found the University of Virginia and served in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly) and Nicholas Cabell (who inherited Liberty Hall but died of tuberculosis). This Cabell's birth family also included daughter Mary Ann Cabell Carrington (1783-1850). At least fourteen members of the extended Cabell family would serve in Virginia's legislature before the American Civil War and six after the conflict. Young William Cabell studied with private tutors and later attended and graduated from Hampden–Sydney College in 1789. He then moved to Williamsburg and attended the College of William and Mary, where he took legal courses from Judge St. George Tucker before graduating in July 1793. Young Cabell then moved to Richmond to read law. Career Cabell began his legal career soon after his admission to the Virginia bar on June 13, 1794, and also followed in his father's footsteps in entering politics.