William Wilson (Illinois judge)

William Wilson
Portrait, c. 1848
3rd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois
In office
January 19, 1825 – December 4, 1848
Preceded byThomas Reynolds
Succeeded bySamuel H. Treat
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois
In office
August 17, 1819 – January 19, 1825
Preceded byWilliam P. Foster
Succeeded byTheophilus W. Smith
Personal details
Born(1794-04-27)April 27, 1794
DiedApril 29, 1857(1857-04-29) (aged 63)
PartyWhig
Spouse
Mary Davidson
(m. 1820)
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • judge
  • farmer
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Battles/warsWar of 1812

William Wilson (April 27, 1794 – April 29, 1857) was an American jurist.

Born in Loudoun County, Virginia, Wilson studied law in Virginia. In 1812, he served in the United States Army under General Andrew Jackson in New Orleans, Louisiana during the War of 1812. In 1817, Wilson moved to Kentucky and then settled in Carmi, Illinois. Wilson was admitted to the Illinois Bar. In 1819, Wilson was elected to the Illinois Supreme Court and served until 1848 when the Illinois Constitution of 1848 went into effect. He served as chief justice of the supreme court. Wilson was a Whig and later a Democrat. In 1848, Wilson resumed his law practice. He died in Carmi, Illinois.[1][2]

Notes

  1. ^ Illinois Supreme Court-William Wilson
  2. ^ 'History of White County, Illinois,' Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois: 1883, Biographical Sketch of William Wilson, pg. 504-506