William Bradford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2ndUnited States Attorney General | |
| In office January 27, 1794 – August 23, 1795 | |
| President | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Edmund Randolph |
| Succeeded by | Charles Lee |
| Associate Justice ofPennsylvania Supreme Court | |
| In office August 22, 1791 – 1794 | |
| Governor | Thomas Mifflin |
| Attorney General of Pennsylvania | |
| In office November 23, 1780 – August 20, 1791 | |
| Governor | Joseph Reed William Moore John Dickinson Benjamin Franklin Thomas Mifflin |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant |
| Succeeded by | Jared Ingersoll |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1755-09-14)September 14, 1755 |
| Died | August 23, 1795(1795-08-23) (aged 39) Washington D.C., U.S. |
| Party | Federalist |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Princeton University(BA) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Pennsylvania Militia Continental Army |
| Years of service | 1776-1779 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit | 11th Pennsylvania Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
William Bradford (September 14, 1755 – August 23, 1795) was a lawyer and judge fromPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, and the secondUnited States Attorney General in 1794–1795.
He was the son of the printerWilliam Bradford and was born in Philadelphia. He began his education at theAcademy of Philadelphia, then attendedPrinceton University, where he formed a lifelong friendship with VirginianJames Madison, before graduating in 1772. When he returned to Philadelphia heread law withEdward Shippen. His progress was delayed by theAmerican Revolutionary War.
In 1776, when thePennsylvania militia was called out, William volunteered as a private. Later that year, the militia was organized into a "flying camp" withDaniel Roberdeau as the first brigadier general in the states forces. General Roberdeau chose the young man as an aide, and later promoted him to brigade major on his headquarters staff.
When his militia term expired, he joined theContinental Army as a captain and company commander in the11th Pennsylvania Regiment commanded by Richard Hampton. By the end of the year, he saw action in theBattle of Trenton. While atMorristown, New Jersey, he was named a deputy to the muster master-general on April 10, 1777, and he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. During the encampment atValley Forge in late 1777 and early 1778, his headquarters was at theDavid Havard House.[1] He resigned after two years due to ill health and returned home in early 1779.
Bradford joined the bar before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in September 1779. He was named as the state's Attorney General in 1780, and served until 1791. In 1784, he married Susan Vergereau Boudinot, the only daughter ofElias Boudinot. The following year, 1785, Bradford was elected a member of theAmerican Philosophical Society.[2] On August 2, 1791 Bradford represented GeneralWilliam West and argued the first recorded case before theU.S. Supreme Court,West v. Barnes losing the decision.
On August 22, 1791, Bradford was appointed to theSupreme Court of Pennsylvania, and served for three years. In 1793, GovernorThomas Mifflin asked his help to reduce the use of thedeath penalty. His report to the legislature was in the form of an essay, "An Inquiry how far the Punishment of Death is Necessary in Pennsylvania". In the next reorganization of Pennsylvania's penal code, the use of capital punishment was substantially reduced. Other states followed the Pennsylvania example.
On January 8, 1794,George Washington named him Attorney General for theUnited States to replaceEdmund Randolph.[3] He served as Attorney General from January 27, 1794 to August 23, 1795.[4]
He died while in office as Attorney General in 1795. He was buried with his wife's family inSaint Mary's Episcopal Churchyard inBurlington, New Jersey.[5] A cenotaph for Bradford was built at his family's burial plot inLaurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was named in his honor.[6]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Pennsylvania Attorney General 1780–1791 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Attorney General 1794–1795 | Succeeded by |
| Secretary of State |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Secretary of the Treasury |
| |
| Secretary of War |
| |
| Attorney General |
| |
