William Fitch Allen was an American lawyer and politician.
Life
He was the eldest son of Abner Harvey Allen and Cynthia Palmer, a sister of the mother of
Sanford E. ChurchSanford Elias Church was an American lawyer and Democratic politician...
. He graduated from
Union CollegeUnion College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
in 1826. Then he studied law in the office of
John C. Wright-Life:He practiced at Esperance, New York. He was First Judge of the Schoharie County Court from 1838 to 1843.He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1843 to 1846....
at Esperance, New York, and in the office of C. M. and E. S. Lee at
Rochester, New YorkRochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He was admitted to the bar in 1829, and commenced practice in partnership with
George FisherGeorge Fisher was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Franklin, Massachusetts, Fisher attended the common schools and Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.He studied law....
at Oswego until 1833. In 1834, he formed a partnership with
Abraham P. GrantAbraham Phineas Grant was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in New Lebanon, New York, Grant attended the public schools and graduated from Hamilton College, Clinton, New York. He then studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1828...
which continued until his election to the New York State Supreme Court.
He was a Democratic member of the
New York State AssemblyThe 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 1843 and 1844. From 1845 to 1847, he was
United States Attorney for the Northern District of New YorkThe United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York is the chief federal law enforcement officer in 32 counties in the northern part of the State of New York. The current U.S. Attorney is Richard S. Hartunian who was nominated on December 23, 2009, by President Barack Obama, confirmed...
. He was a justice of the New York Supreme Court from 1847 to 1863, and sat ex officio on the Court of Appeals in 1854 and 1862. In 1863, he removed to
New York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and resumed the practice of law.
He was
New York State ComptrollerThe New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:...
from 1868 to 1870. He had been re-elected in
1869The 1869 New York state election was held on November 2, 1869, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, two Judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioners and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
, but resigned in July 1870 when he was chosen a judge of the
New York Court of AppealsThe 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...
upon its re-organization after the amendment of the State Constitution in 1869. He remained on the bench until his death in office.
Sources