WITHERS, Robert Enoch, senator, born in Campbell county, Virginia, 18 September, 1821. He was graduated at the medical department of the University of Virginia in 1840, and practised his profession in his native county for fifteen years, afterward removing to Danville. Va. Early in 1861 he became colonel of the 18th Virginia regiment, and with that command he participated in all the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia from Bull Run to Gaines's Mills, where he was severely wounded. Being incapacitated for further field duty, he was then assigned to the charge of the prisons and hospitals in Danville, Virginia, which post he held till the close of the civil war. He edited the "Lynchburg News" in 1866-'8, and subsequently the" Richmond Enquirer," and was nominated for governor by the Democratic party in 1868, but withdrew in favor of Gilbert C. Walker, Conservative. He was a presidential elector in 1873, became lieutenant-governor, 1 January, 1874, and on the 13th of the same month was chosen United States senator as a Democrat, succeeding John F. Lewis, Republican, and serving one term. Since 1885 ha has been United States consul at Hong Kong, China.