Hugh Blair Grigsby

Who was Hugh Blair Grigsby?

Hugh Blair Grigsby was a historical scholar from Virginia. Grigsby was born in Norfolk, Virginia. He represented Norfolk in the legislature when scarcely more than a boy, and in 1829-30 was a member of the State convention with, James Madison, and other noted men. He subsequently devoted himself to literature and agriculture, and was an authority on the history of Virginia. He was president of the Virginia Historical Society, and in 1871 became chancellor of the College of William and Mary, which had given him the degree of Doctor of Laws in 1855. He contributed to the Southern Literary Messenger, and wrote numerous historical discourses, including one on the Virginia convention of 1829-30 delivered before the historical society in 1853, another on that of 1776 delivered at William and Mary in 1855, and "Discourse on Hon. Littleton W. Tazewell". He died in Charlotte County, Virginia in 1881, and buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk.