Atkinson was born on September 13, 1792, in Isle of Wight County to James Atkinson and Mary Atkinson. The father’s occupation is not known, but the family’s modest resources provided for only a limited primary education for young Atkinson. When he was about eighteen he secured a job copying documents for the county clerk. Through this employment Atkinson became interested in the law and in October 1812 he enrolled at the College of William and Mary. When fighting broke out during the War of 1812, he interrupted his studies to join a volunteer militia company and in June 1813 he helped repel an amphibious British assault at Craney Island near Norfolk. By the end of 1813 he was back home, where he opened a law practice.
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