William Cabell Rives, an American statesman, born in Nelson co., Va., May 4, 1793, died near Charlottesville, Va., April 26, 1868. He was educated at Hampden Sidney and William and Mary colleges, and studied law. In 1816 he was a member of the state constitutional convention; and from 1817 to 1819, and in 1822 of the state legislature. In 1823-7 he was a representative in congress, and in 1829-'32 minister to France. He was elected United States senator in 1832, and resigned in 1834, but was reëlected in 1835 and again in 1840, serving till 1845. He was again minister to France from 1849 to 1853. In 1861 he was a member of the peace conference which met at Washington in February, and before the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln as president he with others had a special interview with him to consult upon the means of averting civil war. After the secession of Virginia Mr. Rives became a member of the confederate provisional congress at Montgomery, Ala. He published "Life and Times of James Madison" (3 vols., Boston, 1859-'69).