William Wirt served as U.S. attorney general from 1817 to 1829, serving under Presidents James Monroe and John Quincy Adams. Apart from serving longer than any other attorney general, Wirt is acknowledged as one of the most important figures ever to hold the office. Wirt initiated long overdue reforms and began to establish the office as one deserving of more authority and respect. Despite these efforts, however, it would take another 40 years before Congress dramatically increased the powers of the office.

Wirt was born on November 8, 1772 in Blaidensburg, Maryland. As a young man Wirt became a lawyer through a legal apprenticeship. At that time most lawyers "read the law," working for a lawyer instead of attending a law school. Wirt performed clerical duties, conducted legal research and received tutoring from his employer. After several years of apprenticeship he was admitted to the Virginia bar in 1792, but the practice of...