Hugh Blair Grigsby


Hugh Blair Grigsby was a historical scholar from Virginia.

Early life

Grigsby was born in Norfolk, Virginia. After attending Yale for two years studying law, Grigsby returned to Norfolk to practice, but his growing deafness caused him to turn to journalism. For six years he was owner and editor of the Norfolk American Beacon. He represented Norfolk in the legislature 1829–1830, and became a delegate to the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829–1830 along with, James Madison, and other noted men.
In 1840, Grigsby married Mary Venable Carrington, the daughter of Colonel Clement Carrington of "Edgehill" plantation, Charlotte County, Virginia. Except for short period in Norfolk, Grigsby remained at Edgehill the rest of his life, modernizing agricultural methods and managing a profitable enterprise.
Grigsby had a great passion for books and classical art. He eventually acquired over 6,000 volumes in his lifetime, and augmented his own collection with volumes purchased from the library of John Randolph of Roanoke, who was a delegate from Charlotte County in the Virginia Convention of 1829–30 they had attended together. He supported Virginia sculptor Alexander Galt, and owned his "Columbus", "Sappho", "Psyche", and "Bacchante".

Career at the College

Grigsby, a descendant of the College's first colonial President John Blair, received his Doctorate of Laws from the College in 1855. In 1859, following a fire that consumed the library, headed the list of donors for a vested library fund with a contribution of $1000. One thousand dollars as an economic project cost in 1859 dollars is $4 million in 2016 dollars.
Following the Civil War, Grigsby on the Board of Visitors along with former Governor Henry A. Wise supported College President Benjamin Ewell in reinvesting the College's remaining endowment funds in Williamsburg's heritage site rather than relocating to Richmond. An elementary preparatory school was established with funds from a colonial fund dating to 1741, awarded by the English Court of Chancery in September 1866. Faculty size was reduced and the Brafferton building was used for most classes, along with the President's House as a science laboratory.
In 1870, Grigsby, who had been active at the College of William and Mary on its Board of Visitors since the 1850s, was elected as President of the Virginia Historical Society. The following year he was elected chancellor of the College following former President John Tyler, and Grigsby served both posts as President of the VHS and Chancellor of W&M until 1881.
Grigsby was an authority on the history of Virginia, and William and Mary 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 Constitutional Convention of 1829–1830 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". Grigsby's account of the 1829–1830 convention has been criticized for being a source of anti-Appalachian bias in historical narratives because it downplays the role of western reformers such as Philip Doddridge. One study argued, "Grigsby's recollection of the convention continues to dominate popular histories that repeat the Tidewater hagiography of his summary meant for a prejudicial Richmond audience."
Grigsby died in Charlotte County, Virginia in 1881, and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Norfolk.

Books