Who was Peterson Goodwyn?

Peterson Goodwyn (1745 – February 21, 1818) was an eighteenth century and nineteenth century politician and planter from Virginia.

Born at "Martins" near Petersburg, Virginia, Goodwyn was education by private teachers as a child and went on to complete his preparatory studies. He became a planter, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1776, commencing practice in Petersburg and surrounding areas. During the Revolutionary War, Goodwyn equipped his own company and rose the ranks from captain to major and was promoted to colonel for gallantry at the Battles of Smithfield and Great Bridge. After the war, he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1789 to 1802. Goodwyn was elected a Democratic-Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1802, serving from 1803 to his death on February 21, 1818 at his estate "Sweden" in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. He was interred in the family cemetery on the estate. Goodwyn also has a cenotaph at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C..