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William Tilghman

William Tilghman (August 12, 1756 – April 29, 1827) was the Chief United States circuit judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit and chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

William Tilghman
portrait by Rembrandt Peale
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
In office
1806–1827
Preceded byEdward Shippen IV
Succeeded byJohn Bannister Gibson
Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit
In office
March 3, 1801 – March 8, 1802
Appointed byJohn Adams
Preceded bySeat established by 2 Stat. 89
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Personal details
Born
William Tilghman

(1756-08-12)August 12, 1756
Talbot County,
Province of Maryland,
British America
DiedApril 29, 1827(1827-04-29) (aged 70)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
RelativesMatthew Tilghman
Tench Tilghman
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (A.B., M.A.)
read law

Education and career edit

Born on August 12, 1756, in Talbot County, Province of Maryland, British America,[1] Tilghman received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1772 from the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania), received a Master of Arts degree from the same institution and read law in 1783.[1] He entered private practice in Talbot County, Maryland from 1783 to 1788.[1] He was a delegate to the Maryland State Convention of 1788, to vote whether Maryland should ratify the proposed Constitution of the United States.[2] He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1788 to 1790.[1] He was a member of the Maryland Senate from 1791 to 1793.[1] He resumed private practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1794 to 1801.[1]

Federal judicial service edit

Tilghman was nominated by President John Adams on February 26, 1801, to the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit, to the new Chief Judge seat authorized by 2 Stat. 89.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 2, 1801, and received his commission on March 3, 1801.[1] His service terminated on July 1, 1802, due to abolition of the court.[1]

Later career edit

Following his departure from the federal bench, Tilghman resumed private practice in Philadelphia from 1802 to 1805.[1] He was President Judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial District in 1805.[1] He was a Judge of the Pennsylvania High Court of Errors and Appeals until 1806.[1] He was chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1806 to 1827.[1]

Rulings on slavery and emancipation edit

In 1780, Pennsylvania had passed a law for gradual abolition of slavery, and Tilghman as a justice ruled in several freedom suits. The law required the registration of existing slaves at the time, who were considered "servants for life," and of children born in future years to former slave women now considered servants for life. While legally free at birth, such children were required to provide 28 years of what was effectively indentured service to their mother's master before attaining full freedom as adults. Questions related to registration and its influence on freedom of individuals came to be settled by judicial interpretation. Tilghman eventually dominated the court.[3]

Before him, justices had argued that the registration requirements of gradual emancipation law should be strictly construed, and resolved in favor of liberty for plaintiffs. Tilghman disagreed and as early as 1810, began to move the court to a more neutral stance that gave more weight to property rights.[3] After about a decade, he appeared to consider the act to be in aid of "adjustment of interests." In two freedom suits, he demonstrated his agreement with the "legislative recognition of masters' qualified property rights."[3] When John B. Gibson succeeded Tilghman as Chief Justice, he argued more in favor of liberty in such cases.[3]

In 1811, perhaps because of his campaign for election as governor, Tilghman began emancipating slaves he still held on plantations in Maryland, but he was overall a weak anti-slavery figure.[3]

Death edit

 
Coat of Arms of William Tilghman

Tilghman died on April 29, 1827, in Philadelphia.[1]

Family edit

Tilghman was the nephew of Matthew Tilghman and brother of Tench Tilghman.[citation needed]

Memberships edit

In 1816, Tilghman was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society.[4] In 1805, he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia and served as its president from 1824 to his death in 1827.[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n William Tilghman at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  2. ^ Secretary of State of Maryland (1915). Maryland Manual 1914–1915: A Compendium of Legal, Historical and Statistical Information relating to the State of Maryland. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: The Advertiser-Republican.
  3. ^ a b c d e Robert M. Cover, Justice Accused: Antislavery and the Judicial Process, New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1975, pp. 62-64
  4. ^ American Antiquarian Society Members Directory
  5. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2021-04-01.

External links edit

Party political offices
Preceded by Federalist nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania
1811
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by
Seat established by 2 Stat. 89
Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit
1801–1802
Succeeded by
Seat abolished
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
1806–1827
Succeeded by

william, tilghman, lawman, gunfighter, american, west, bill, tilghman, august, 1756, april, 1827, chief, united, states, circuit, judge, united, states, circuit, court, third, circuit, chief, justice, supreme, court, pennsylvania, portrait, rembrandt, pealechi. For the lawman and gunfighter in the American West see Bill Tilghman William Tilghman August 12 1756 April 29 1827 was the Chief United States circuit judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit and chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania William Tilghmanportrait by Rembrandt PealeChief Justice of the Supreme Court of PennsylvaniaIn office 1806 1827Preceded byEdward Shippen IVSucceeded byJohn Bannister GibsonChief Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third CircuitIn office March 3 1801 March 8 1802Appointed byJohn AdamsPreceded bySeat established by 2 Stat 89Succeeded bySeat abolishedPersonal detailsBornWilliam Tilghman 1756 08 12 August 12 1756Talbot County Province of Maryland British AmericaDiedApril 29 1827 1827 04 29 aged 70 Philadelphia PennsylvaniaRelativesMatthew TilghmanTench TilghmanEducationUniversity of Pennsylvania A B M A read law Contents 1 Education and career 2 Federal judicial service 3 Later career 3 1 Rulings on slavery and emancipation 4 Death 5 Family 6 Memberships 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksEducation and career editBorn on August 12 1756 in Talbot County Province of Maryland British America 1 Tilghman received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1772 from the College of Philadelphia now the University of Pennsylvania received a Master of Arts degree from the same institution and read law in 1783 1 He entered private practice in Talbot County Maryland from 1783 to 1788 1 He was a delegate to the Maryland State Convention of 1788 to vote whether Maryland should ratify the proposed Constitution of the United States 2 He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1788 to 1790 1 He was a member of the Maryland Senate from 1791 to 1793 1 He resumed private practice in Philadelphia Pennsylvania from 1794 to 1801 1 Federal judicial service editTilghman was nominated by President John Adams on February 26 1801 to the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit to the new Chief Judge seat authorized by 2 Stat 89 1 He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 2 1801 and received his commission on March 3 1801 1 His service terminated on July 1 1802 due to abolition of the court 1 Later career editFollowing his departure from the federal bench Tilghman resumed private practice in Philadelphia from 1802 to 1805 1 He was President Judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial District in 1805 1 He was a Judge of the Pennsylvania High Court of Errors and Appeals until 1806 1 He was chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1806 to 1827 1 Rulings on slavery and emancipation edit In 1780 Pennsylvania had passed a law for gradual abolition of slavery and Tilghman as a justice ruled in several freedom suits The law required the registration of existing slaves at the time who were considered servants for life and of children born in future years to former slave women now considered servants for life While legally free at birth such children were required to provide 28 years of what was effectively indentured service to their mother s master before attaining full freedom as adults Questions related to registration and its influence on freedom of individuals came to be settled by judicial interpretation Tilghman eventually dominated the court 3 Before him justices had argued that the registration requirements of gradual emancipation law should be strictly construed and resolved in favor of liberty for plaintiffs Tilghman disagreed and as early as 1810 began to move the court to a more neutral stance that gave more weight to property rights 3 After about a decade he appeared to consider the act to be in aid of adjustment of interests In two freedom suits he demonstrated his agreement with the legislative recognition of masters qualified property rights 3 When John B Gibson succeeded Tilghman as Chief Justice he argued more in favor of liberty in such cases 3 In 1811 perhaps because of his campaign for election as governor Tilghman began emancipating slaves he still held on plantations in Maryland but he was overall a weak anti slavery figure 3 Death edit nbsp Coat of Arms of William TilghmanTilghman died on April 29 1827 in Philadelphia 1 Family editTilghman was the nephew of Matthew Tilghman and brother of Tench Tilghman citation needed Memberships editIn 1816 Tilghman was elected a member of the American Antiquarian Society 4 In 1805 he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia and served as its president from 1824 to his death in 1827 5 See also editFreedom suitsReferences edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n William Tilghman at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges a publication of the Federal Judicial Center Secretary of State of Maryland 1915 Maryland Manual 1914 1915 A Compendium of Legal Historical and Statistical Information relating to the State of Maryland Annapolis Maryland USA The Advertiser Republican a b c d e Robert M Cover Justice Accused Antislavery and the Judicial Process New Haven and London Yale University Press 1975 pp 62 64 American Antiquarian Society Members Directory APS Member History search amphilsoc org Retrieved 2021 04 01 External links editThe Political Graveyard William Tilghman at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges a publication of the Federal Judicial Center Works by William Tilghman at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Party political officesPreceded byJames Ross Federalist nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania1811 Succeeded byIsaac WayneLegal officesPreceded bySeat established by 2 Stat 89 Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Third Circuit1801 1802 Succeeded bySeat abolishedPreceded byEdward Shippen IV Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania1806 1827 Succeeded byJohn Bannister Gibson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Tilghman amp oldid 1192701002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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