William Bradford (Attorney General) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Bradford
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| 2nd United States Attorney General | |
| In office January 27, 1794 – August 23, 1795 |
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| President | George Washington |
| Preceded by | Edmund Randolph |
| Succeeded by | Charles Lee |
| Attorney General of Pennsylvania | |
| In office November 23, 1780 – August 20, 1791 |
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| Governor | Joseph Reed William Moore John Dickinson Benjamin Franklin Thomas Mifflin |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Dickinson Sergeant |
| Succeeded by | Jared Ingersoll |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 14, 1755 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, British America |
| Died | August 23, 1795 (aged 39) Washington D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) |
William Bradford (born September 14, 1755 – died August 23, 1795) was an important American lawyer and judge. He came from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is best known for being the second United States Attorney General, serving from 1794 to 1795.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Bradford was born in Philadelphia. His father, also named William Bradford, was a printer. Young William started his education at the Academy of Philadelphia. He then went to Princeton University.
While at Princeton, he became good friends with James Madison, who later became a U.S. President. William graduated in 1772. After college, he returned to Philadelphia to study law with Edward Shippen. His law studies were put on hold because of the American Revolutionary War.
Serving in the Revolutionary War
In 1776, William Bradford joined the Pennsylvania militia as a private soldier. Later that year, he became an aide to General Daniel Roberdeau. He was promoted to brigade major on the general's staff.
When his time with the militia ended, he joined the Continental Army. He became a captain and led a company in the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment. He fought in the Battle of Trenton in late 1776.
In 1777, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He spent the winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge. This was a very tough time for the army. After two years of service, he had to leave the army in 1779 because he became ill.
A Career in Law and Justice
After leaving the army, Bradford became a lawyer in September 1779. In 1780, he was chosen to be the Attorney General of Pennsylvania. He held this important state job until 1791.
In 1784, he married Susan Vergereau Boudinot. She was the daughter of Elias Boudinot, another important figure in American history. The next year, in 1785, Bradford became a member of the American Philosophical Society. This group included many famous thinkers and leaders.
On August 2, 1791, Bradford argued a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. This was one of the very first cases heard by the highest court in the country. A few weeks later, on August 22, 1791, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, where he served for three years.
Changing Laws in Pennsylvania
In 1793, the Governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Mifflin, asked Bradford for help. The governor wanted to reduce how often the death penalty was used. Bradford wrote a report called "An Inquiry how far the Punishment of Death is Necessary in Pennsylvania."
His report helped change Pennsylvania's laws. The use of the death penalty was greatly reduced. Other states later followed Pennsylvania's example.
United States Attorney General
On January 8, 1794, President George Washington chose William Bradford to be the United States Attorney General. This meant he was the chief lawyer for the entire country. He replaced Edmund Randolph in this role.
William Bradford died while he was still in office in 1795. He was buried with his wife's family in Saint Mary's Episcopal Churchyard in Burlington, New Jersey. A special monument, called a cenotaph, was built for him at his family's burial plot in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Bradford County, Pennsylvania, was named in his honor.
See also
In Spanish: William Bradford (fiscal general) para niños
