William B. Wright
Encyclopedia
William B. Wright was an American lawyer and politician from New York
. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
in 1868.
He lived at Monticello, New York
, and was Surrogate
of Sullivan County
from 1840 to 1844. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846. He was a member from Sullivan County of the New York State Assembly
in 1847.
He was a Justice of the New York Supreme Court
from 1847 to 1861, and removed to Kingston, New York
, the seat of the bench of the Third Judicial District. He was an ex officio judge of the Court of Appeals in 1847-48, 1856 and 1860.
In 1861, he was elected to the New York Court of Appeals
on the Union ticket nominated by War Democrats
and Republicans, and took office on January 1, 1862. He became Chief Judge on January 1, 1868, but died of kidney
disease at Congress Hall in Albany, less than two weeks later. Wright was interred at Wiltwyck Cemetery in Kingston, NY.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
in 1868.
Life
He was the son of Samuel Wright.He lived at Monticello, New York
Monticello, New York
Monticello is a village located in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 6,512 at the 2000 census. It is the seat for the Town of Thompson and the county seat of Sullivan County...
, and was Surrogate
Surrogate Court
A probate court is a specialized court that deals with matters of probate and the administration of estates....
of Sullivan County
Sullivan County, New York
Sullivan County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 77,547. The county seat is Monticello. The name is in honor of Major General John Sullivan, who was a hero in the American Revolutionary War...
from 1840 to 1844. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1846. He was a member from Sullivan County of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1847.
He was a Justice of the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
from 1847 to 1861, and removed to Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
, the seat of the bench of the Third Judicial District. He was an ex officio judge of the Court of Appeals in 1847-48, 1856 and 1860.
In 1861, he was elected to the New York Court of Appeals
New York Court of Appeals
The New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in the U.S. state of New York. The Court of Appeals consists of seven judges: the Chief Judge and six associate judges who are appointed by the Governor to 14-year terms...
on the Union ticket nominated by War Democrats
War Democrats
War Democrats in American politics of the 1860s were adherents of the Democratic Party who rejected the Copperheads/Peace Democrats who controlled the party...
and Republicans, and took office on January 1, 1862. He became Chief Judge on January 1, 1868, but died of kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
disease at Congress Hall in Albany, less than two weeks later. Wright was interred at Wiltwyck Cemetery in Kingston, NY.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/wright9.html Political Graveyard
- http://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/bios/wright_william.htm Short bio at Court History
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B06E4DA1630EE34BC4B52DFB7668383679FDE Death notice in NYT on January 13, 1868
- https://www.courts.state.ny.us/history/elecbook/thereshallbe/pg94.htm Listing of judges, with portrait
- http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1861/september/lincoln-slave-order.htm New York Union state ticket, in Harper's Weekly, September 28, 1861, pg. 611
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 59, 318, 351 and 410; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)