William Adams Richardson
Appointed by President Ulysses Grant in 1874 and confirmed by the Senate 27–20, William Adams Richardson was a Chief Justice on the Court of Claims. He earned a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1846. Sources ↓
- Lived
- 1821–1896
- Appointed by
- Ulysses Grant, 1874
- Confirmed
- 27–20
- Education
- Harvard College 1843 · Harvard Law School 1846
- Succeeded
- Samuel Milligan
- Succeeded by
- Charles Cooper Nott
Federal judicial service
| Year | Court | Appointed by | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1874 | Court of Claims succeeded Samuel Milligan | Grant (R) | 27–20 |
| 1885 | Court of Claims succeeded Charles Daniel Drake | Arthur (R) | 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
The Senate’s published per-senator roll-call records begin in 1989, so no senator-by-senator breakdown is available for this vote.
Education
| Harvard College | A.B. | 1843 |
| Harvard College | A.M. | 1846 |
| Harvard Law School | LL.B. | 1846 |
Questions & answers
- Who appointed William Adams Richardson?
- President Ulysses Grant appointed William Adams Richardson to the Court of Claims in 1874.
- Was William Adams Richardson appointed by a Democrat or a Republican?
- William Adams Richardson was appointed by President Ulysses Grant, a Republican. JudicialFinder records the appointing president's party, not a judge's own politics.
- What was William Adams Richardson's confirmation vote?
- The Senate confirmed William Adams Richardson 27–20 on June 2, 1874.
- Which court was William Adams Richardson on?
- William Adams Richardson was a Chief Justice on the Court of Claims.
Sources
Each fact on this page traces to a primary public record.
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22 years on the Court of Claims. Data as of 2026-08-10. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).