TALIAFERRO, William Booth, (tol'-li-ver), soldier, born in Belleville, Gloucester County, Virginia, 28 December, 1822. He was educated at Harvard and at William and Mary college, where he was graduated in 1841. He became captain in the 11th United States infantry, 9 April, 1847, major of the 9th infantry, 12 August, 1847, and was mustered out, 26 August, 1848. At the beginning of the civil war he was made colonel in the provisional army of Virgina, 1 May, 1861, and he rose to be brigadier-general in the Confederate service, 4 March, 1862, and major-general, 1 January, 1865. He commanded the Confederate troops in 1861 at Gloucester point, Virginia, took part in the engagements at Carrick's Ford, Virginia, 13 July, and in most of the battles of the Army of Northern Virginia to March, 1863, when he was placed in charge of the district of Savannah, Georgia In July of the same year he commanded the troops and defences on Morris island, South Carolina, and in August following the forces on James island.. In February, 1864, he led a division in Florida, consisting of four brigades. In May, 1864, he was put in command of the 7th military district of South Carolina, and in December following he was assigned to the command of the district of South Carolina. In January, 1865, he led a division composed of the brigades of Elliott, Rhett, and Anderson. General Taliaferro was a member of the general assembly of Virginia for ten years and Democratic presidential elector in 1856. He was grand-master of Masons in Virginia in 1876-'7, and member of the boards of visitors of Virginia military institute, of the Mechanical and agricultural college of the state, of William and Mary college, and of the State normal school for the education of women.