William Wirt, American lawyer and politician, 9th United States Attorney General (died 1834)
William Wirt (attorney general)
William Wirt was an American lawyer, politician and author who is credited with turning the position of United States Attorney General into one of influence. The longest-serving attorney general in U.S. history, also served in the Virginia House of Delegates and was the (unsuccessful) Anti-Masonic nominee for president in the 1832 election.
United States Attorney General
The United States attorney general is the head of the United States Department of Justice and serves as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government. The attorney general acts as the principal legal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters. The attorney general is also a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States and a member of the United States National Security Council. Additionally, the attorney general is seventh in the presidential line of succession.