Oil on canvas, 30 x 25 in., by William G. Brown, undated
Location: Hearing Room A

Born February 24, 1826 in Patrick County, Virginia
Died August 20, 1897 in Christiansburg, Virginia

Elected by the General Assembly on March 23, 1870 to a 12-year term beginning January 1, 1871, but began his service early, on April 13, 1870. Service terminated by the election of Robert A. Richardson, the nominee of the Readjuster party.

Education:
Attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1841-1843, circa
Graduated from the College of William and Mary, 1845

Professional career:
Private practice of law in Christiansburg (1846-1870) and Richmond (1883-1897)
Virginia state delegate, 1853-1854
Delegate, Provisional Confederate Congress, 1861-1862
Confederate representative from Virginia, 1862–1865

Further reading/Research collections

Sources:
Elected, 91 Va., xx; began his service on April 13, 1870, The Hornbook of Virginia History, “Judges of the Supreme Court of Virginia,” (2013, December 11), in Encyclopedia Virginia, retrieved on September 15, 2014; nominated for a second term, but not elected, The Supreme Court, The Daily Dispatch, (Richmond Va.), February 26, 1882, col. 4, retrieved on March 7, 2014; birth, education, career and death, Judge Staples Dead, The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Va.), August 21, 1897, col. 3, retrieved on February 18, 2014; graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1845, A Provisional List of Alumni, Grammar School Students, Members of the Faculty, and Members of the Board of Visitors of the College of William and Mary in Virginia From 1693-1888 (Richmond: Division of Purchase and Printing, 1941), 38; portrait, Library of Virginia catalog.