Frederick W. M. Holliday

Born in Winchester, Virginia, Holliday was the son of Dr. R.J. and Mary Catherine Taylor Holliday. He attended Winchester Academy and Yale University before earning degrees in philosophy, political economy, and law from the University of Virginia. He was the Commonwealth's Attorney for Frederick County, Virginia from 1861 to 1865.

When the American Civil War began he was elected as first captain of the Mountain Rangers of Winchester, which became Company D of the 33rd Virginia Infantry Regiment. The unit was part of the Stonewall Brigade in the Army of Northern Virginia. During the Battle of Cedar Mountain, Holliday was wounded in his right arm, which then had to be amputated.[1] He resigned from the military as a colonel on March 1, 1864, and was elected to the Second Confederate Congress.

Holliday won the election for Governor of Virginia in 1877 as a Conservative Democrat unopposed. Holliday began his term by breaking the established tradition of small inauguration ceremonies for Virginia governors. His ceremony included parades, bands, cannons, and an inaugural speech given to some 10,000 people.

Holliday traveled the world after his term as governor. He died in 1899[2] and was buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery in Winchester, Virginia.

• A Guide to the Executive Papers of Governor Frederick W. M. Holliday, 1878–1881 at The Library of Virginia