William Adams Richardson

William Adams Richardson

Prior offices:

U.S. Court of Claims

Years in office: 1885 - 1896

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Years in office: 1874 - 1885

Personal

Birthplace

Massachusetts

William Adams Richardson (1821-1896) was a federal judge on the United States Court of Claims.

Richardson was nominated to the Court of Claims by President Ulysses Grant. He was commissioned on June 2, 1874. He was later commissioned as chief justice on January 20, 1885 following an appointment to that position by President Chester Arthur. He served as chief justice until his death on October 19, 1896.

Education

• Harvard College, A.B., 1843
• Harvard College, M.A., 1846
• Harvard Law School, LL.B., 1846

Professional career

• Private practice, Lowell, Massachusetts, 1846
• Justice of the peace, 1849-1877
• Bank president, Wamesit, Massachusetts, 1852-1853
• Judge, Probate Court, Middlesex County, 1856-1858
• Judge, Probate and Insolvency Courts, Middlesex County, 1858-1872
• Assistant secretary of treasury, U.S. Department of Treasury, 1869-1872
• Acting Attorney General of the United States, 1870
• U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, 1873-1874
• Law lecturer, Georgetown Law School and Columbian University, 1879-1894