William Coleman (judge)
Encyclopedia
William Coleman was a lawyer, municipal official, and judge in colonial Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
.
He was born in Philadelphia, where he was educated and studied law. His parents were Quakers
; his mother, Rebecca, had arrived in the new colony of Pennsylvania
as a child in 1683, and his father, also William Coleman, was a carpenter.
After he was admitted to the bar, Coleman held a variety of municipal offices, beginning as Town Clerk and Clerk of the City Court. He became a Judge of various local courts including the Orphan's Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Quarter Sessions. In 1758 he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
. He was also a merchant, in partnership with Thomas Hopkinson
. He was also active in Philadelphia's emerging cultural institutions. By 1727 Coleman was a friend of Benjamin Franklin
and member of Franklin's Junto. He was a founder and first treasurer of the American Philosophical Society
, one of the first directors of the Philadelphia Contributionship
, and an early supporter of Pennsylvania Hospital
.
Coleman was also a founder of the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania
, serving as the original clerk of the Board of Trustees, 1749–1755, and as its first treasurer, 1749–1764.
William Coleman married Hannah Fitzwater in 1738; the couple was childless, but Coleman adopted his nephew, George Clymer
.
He died in Philadelphia in 1769.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
.
He was born in Philadelphia, where he was educated and studied law. His parents were Quakers
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
; his mother, Rebecca, had arrived in the new colony of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
as a child in 1683, and his father, also William Coleman, was a carpenter.
After he was admitted to the bar, Coleman held a variety of municipal offices, beginning as Town Clerk and Clerk of the City Court. He became a Judge of various local courts including the Orphan's Court, Court of Common Pleas, and Quarter Sessions. In 1758 he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
. He was also a merchant, in partnership with Thomas Hopkinson
Thomas Hopkinson
Thomas Hopkinson was a lawyer, public official, and prominent figure in colonial Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. He was also active in Philadelphia's emerging cultural institutions. By 1727 Coleman was a friend of Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
and member of Franklin's Junto. He was a founder and first treasurer of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
, one of the first directors of the Philadelphia Contributionship
Philadelphia Contributionship
The Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire is the oldest property insurance company in the United States. It was organized by Benjamin Franklin in 1752, and incorporated in 1768....
, and an early supporter of Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital is a hospital in Center City, Philadelphia, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System . Founded on May 11, 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, it was the first hospital in the United States...
.
Coleman was also a founder of the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, serving as the original clerk of the Board of Trustees, 1749–1755, and as its first treasurer, 1749–1764.
William Coleman married Hannah Fitzwater in 1738; the couple was childless, but Coleman adopted his nephew, George Clymer
George Clymer
George Clymer was an American politician and founding father. He was one of the first Patriots to advocate complete independence from Britain. As a Pennsylvania representative, Clymer was, along with five others, a signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution...
.
He died in Philadelphia in 1769.