Grenville Gaines

Grenville Gaines (September 26, 1854 – May 2, 1922) was an American politician, lawyer and banker from Virginia. He served as mayor of Warrenton in the 1890s.

Early life Grenville Gaines was born on September 26, 1854, in Warrenton, Virginia, to Mary Mildred (née Foster) and William Henry Gaines. His grandfather James Foster was a planter in Prince William County and a Virginia state politician. He studied at Bethel Military Academy from 1869 to 1870. He attended Virginia Military Institute from 1870 to 1874 and graduated in the class of 1874 as a civil engineer. He graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law with a Bachelor of Laws in July 1876. He was then admitted to the bar.

Career Gaines started a law practice in Warrenton in 1876. He was a member of the board of commissioners for the eighth district of Virginia for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.

Gaines was a member of the state Democratic committee. Gaines was a member of the board of visitors of the Virginia Military Institute from 1897 to 1900. He was appointed again to the board of visitors in 1916, in 1918, and served until his death.

Personal life

Gaines married Lizzie Taylor Harris, granddaughter of Surgeon General Thomas Harris, on November 15, 1882. They had three children, Mary Foster, William H. and Elizabeth Taylor.