James Wilson
Appointed by President George Washington in 1789 and confirmed by voice vote, James Wilson was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Sources ↓
- Lived
- 1742–1798
- Appointed by
- George Washington, 1789
- Confirmed
- by voice vote
- Succeeded by
- Bushrod Washington
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1789 | Supreme Court | Washington (–) | Voice vote |
Party letters show the appointing president’s party, not the judge’s own. A voice vote means the chamber approved aloud. No senator-by-senator tally is recorded.
Confirmation vote
Voice vote
The Senate approved this confirmation aloud, with no senator-by-senator tally recorded. Recorded roll-call votes begin in 1989.
Education
| University of Glasgow | ||
| University of Edinburgh | ||
| University of St. Andrews | ||
| Read law | 1767 |
Before the bench
Professional career before and outside the federal bench, as recorded by the Federal Judicial Center.
| Private practice, Reading, Pennsylvania | 1768-1770 |
| Private practice, Carlisle, Pennsylvania | 1770-1774 |
| Delegate, Continental Congress | 1774-1777, 1783, 1785-1787 |
| Businessman, land speculator and legal advisor, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1777-1787 |
| Avocat général for maritime and commercial causes, appointed by French government | 1779-1783 |
| Delegate, Federal Constitutional Convention | 1787 |
| Professor of law, College of Philadelphia | 1789 |
| Drafter, Pennsylvania Constitution | 1790 |
Questions & answers
- Who appointed James Wilson?
- President George Washington appointed James Wilson to the Supreme Court of the United States in 1789.
- What was James Wilson's confirmation vote?
- James Wilson was confirmed by voice vote on September 26, 1789. No senator-by-senator tally was recorded.
- Which court was James Wilson on?
- James Wilson was an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
Sources
Each fact on this page traces to a primary public record.
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8 years on the Supreme Court of the United States. Data as of 2026-09-28. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).