Tucker, John Randolph (24 December 1823–13 February 1897), attorney general of Virginia, congressman, and legal educator and scholar, was born in Winchester, Virginia, the son of Henry St. George Tucker, the president of the Virginia Court of Appeals, and Anne Evelina Hunter. Tucker spent part of his youth at the Tucker home, “Woodbury,” in Jefferson County and received his early education at a private school in Winchester. He later attended the Richmond Academy and, from 1839 to 1844, the University of Virginia, where his father taught law. In addition to law, Tucker studied moral and political philosophy, mathematics, and physical science. In 1845 he began practicing law in Winchester and soon rose to legal and political prominence. In 1848 he married Laura Holmes Powell; they had seven children. In 1852 and 1856 he was a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket, and in May 1857 he was elected attorney general of Virginia. He was twice reelected, in 1859 and 1863, and served until 1865....
