US Congressman. He was born in Gloucester County, Virginia, in about 1747, (his actual birthdate is unknown). He was educated locally and completed preparatory studies. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced. During the American Revolutionary War, he served with the rank of Colonel in the Revolutionary Army. Following the war, he entered politics. He then decided to run for a seat in the United States Congress and was elected in 1792. A Member of the Anti-Administration Party, he then served Virginia's 11th District and 16th District (Third Congress and five succeeding Congresses), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1793, to March 3, 1805. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office for the 16th District by United States Representative John Wayles Eppes on March 3, 1803, and for the 11th District by United States Representative James Mercer Garnett on March 3, 1805. After leaving the United States Congress he moved to Elkton, Kentucky, where he ran for another seat in the United States Congress and was elected. A Member of the Democratic-Republican Party, he then served Kentucky's 1st District (Twelfth Congress), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1811, to March 3, 1813. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative James Clark on March 4, 1813. He then ran for another seat in the United States Congress and was elected yet again. A Member of the Democratic-Republican Party, he then served Kentucky's 5th District (Fifteenth Congress), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1817, to March 3, 1819. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative Alney McLean on March 4, 1819. He then ran for yet another seat in the United States Congress and was once again elected. A Member of the Democratic-Republican Party, he then served Kentucky's 5th District (Seventeenth Congress), in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1821, to March 3, 1823. After his term in the United States Congress expired he was succeeded in office by United States Representative John Telemachus Johnson on March 4, 1823. After leaving the United States Congress, he retired from public service and returned to Elkton, Kentucky, where he involved himself in agricultural pursuits at his home, the 478-acre 'Dunheath Estate,' until his death. He passed away in Elkton, Kentucky, on March 2, 1833, at the age of about 85 or 86, and was buried in the family burying ground on 'Dunheath Estate,' also in Elkton, Kentucky. He was married to Nancy Caroline Wyatt in 1782, and the couple had six children together, two boys and four girls. She passed away in 1833 at the age of about 90, but her resting place is currently unknown. He is remembered on a sign which sits in front of the McCracken, Kentucky, Courthouse (in Paducah, Kentucky), and commemorates early members of the United States House of Representatives (besides Anthony New (Democratic-Republican, 1821-1823), the others are Alney McLean (Independent, 1819-1821), Robert Pryor Henry (Democratic-Republican, 1823-1826), John Flournoy Henry (Democratic-Republican, 1826-1827), Chittenden Lyon (Democrat, 1827-1835), Linn Boyd (Democrat, 1835-1837, 1839-1855), and John L. Murray (Democrat, 1837-1839), who represented the Jackson Purchase (U.S. historical region). The "First District," in the title actually changed over time. It refers to the Jackson Purchase, which was in the 5th District from 1819 to 1823, the 12th district until 1833, and then the 1st District until the end of the sign's lineage in 1855. He was also a lifelong member of the Baptist faith and one of his newspaper obituaries of the day said of him following his death, "To the exalted virtue of love of country and devotion to its prosperity."