William Bayard Shields
Encyclopedia
William Bayard Shields was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Maryland
in 1780, Shields read law to enter the bar. He began a private practice in Wilmington, Delaware
, which he continued until 1802, when he became Secretary of State of Delaware
. He was in private practice in Natchez, Mississippi
from 1803 to 1809, and was a U.S. agent to adjust land claims west of the Pearl River in 1804, and a member of the Mississippi Territorial Legislature from 1808 to 1809. He served as attorney general of Mississippi Territory beginning in 1809, but returned to private practice in Natchez by 1812. He was again in the Mississippi Territorial Legislature from 1813 to 1814, returning to private practice in Natchez from 1814 to 1817. He was a judge on the Mississippi Superior Court from 1817 to 1818.
On April 20, 1818, Shields was nominated by President James Monroe
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Mississippi created by 3 Stat. 413. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on April 20, 1818, and received his commission the same day, serving thereafter until his death, in 1823, in Natchez.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1780, Shields read law to enter the bar. He began a private practice in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, which he continued until 1802, when he became Secretary of State of Delaware
Secretary of State of Delaware
The Secretary of State of Delaware is the head of the Department of State of the U.S. state of Delaware. The Department is in charge of a wide variety of public and governmental services, and is divided into the following divisions:* * * * *...
. He was in private practice in Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
from 1803 to 1809, and was a U.S. agent to adjust land claims west of the Pearl River in 1804, and a member of the Mississippi Territorial Legislature from 1808 to 1809. He served as attorney general of Mississippi Territory beginning in 1809, but returned to private practice in Natchez by 1812. He was again in the Mississippi Territorial Legislature from 1813 to 1814, returning to private practice in Natchez from 1814 to 1817. He was a judge on the Mississippi Superior Court from 1817 to 1818.
On April 20, 1818, Shields was nominated by President James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of Mississippi created by 3 Stat. 413. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on April 20, 1818, and received his commission the same day, serving thereafter until his death, in 1823, in Natchez.