US Congressman, Revolutionary War Officer. A Virginia Republican, he was elected to eight consecutive terms in the US House of Representatives, serving from 1803 until his death. Goodwyn was born at the "Martins" estate near Petersburg, Virginia, into a family of planters. He was primarily home-schooled. At the start of the Revolution he equipped his own company and was promoted to Colonel for gallantry at the Battle of Great Bridge (December 9, 1775), which effectively ended British rule over the Virginia Colony. In 1776 he was admitted to the bar and began practice in Dinwiddie County while also running his own plantation, "Sweden". From 1789 to 1802 Goodwyn was a member of the State House of Delegates, resigning upon his election to Congress. On Capitol Hill he represented Virginia's now obsolete 18th and 19th Districts. He died at "Sweden" and was buried there. There is a cenotaph in his memory at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.
US Congressman, Revolutionary War Officer. A Virginia Republican, he was elected to eight consecutive terms in the US House of Representatives, serving from 1803 until his death. Goodwyn was born at the "Martins" estate near Petersburg, Virginia, into a family of planters. He was primarily home-schooled. At the start of the Revolution he equipped his own company and was promoted to Colonel for gallantry at the Battle of Great Bridge (December 9, 1775), which effectively ended British rule over the Virginia Colony. In 1776 he was admitted to the bar and began practice in Dinwiddie County while also running his own plantation, "Sweden". From 1789 to 1802 Goodwyn was a member of the State House of Delegates, resigning upon his election to Congress. On Capitol Hill he represented Virginia's now obsolete 18th and 19th Districts. He died at "Sweden" and was buried there. There is a cenotaph in his memory at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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