William Paine Sheffield (1820-1907)
Encyclopedia
William Paine Sheffield (August 30, 1820 June 2, 1907) was a United States Representative and Senator
from Rhode Island
.
(on Block Island
), he completed preparatory studies, attended Kingston Academy
, and graduated from the law department of Harvard University
in 1843; he was admitted to the bar in 1844 and commenced practice in Newport
. In 1841 and 1842 he was a delegate to the State constitutional conventions
and was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
from 1842 to 1845, from 1849 to 1853, and from 1857 to 1861. He moved to Tiverton and returned to Newport.
Sheffield was elected as a Union candidate to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861-March 4, 1863) and then resumed the practice of law; he was appointed in 1871 one of the commissioners to revise the State laws, and was a member of the State house of representatives from 1875 to 1884. He was appointed as a Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry B. Anthony
and served from November 19, 1884, to January 20, 1885, after which he resumed the practice of his profession. Sheffield died in Newport in 1907; interment was in the Island Cemetery.
Sheffield was the father of William Paine Sheffield, also a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.
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...
from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
Biography
Born in New ShorehamNew Shoreham, Rhode Island
New Shoreham is the town located on Block Island in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 1,051 at the 2010 census...
(on Block Island
Block Island
Block Island is part of the U.S. state of Rhode Island and is located in the Atlantic Ocean approximately south of the coast of Rhode Island, east of Montauk Point on Long Island, and is separated from the Rhode Island mainland by Block Island Sound. The United States Census Bureau defines Block...
), he completed preparatory studies, attended Kingston Academy
Kingston, Rhode Island
Kingston is a village and a census-designated place in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States, and the site of the main campus of the University of Rhode Island. Much of the village center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Kingston Village Historic...
, and graduated from the law department of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1843; he was admitted to the bar in 1844 and commenced practice in Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. In 1841 and 1842 he was a delegate to the State constitutional conventions
Rhode Island Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is a document describing the structure and function of the government of the U.S. State of Rhode Island.-History:...
and was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives
Rhode Island House of Representatives
The Rhode Island House of Representatives is the lower house of the Rhode Island General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. State of Rhode Island. It is composed of 75 members, elected to two year terms from 75 districts of equal population. The Rhode Island General Assembly does not have...
from 1842 to 1845, from 1849 to 1853, and from 1857 to 1861. He moved to Tiverton and returned to Newport.
Sheffield was elected as a Union candidate to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861-March 4, 1863) and then resumed the practice of law; he was appointed in 1871 one of the commissioners to revise the State laws, and was a member of the State house of representatives from 1875 to 1884. He was appointed as a Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry B. Anthony
Henry B. Anthony
Henry Bowen Anthony was a United States newspaperman and political figure. He served as the editor and later part owner of the Providence Journal and later was the 21st Governor of Rhode Island between 1849 and 1851, as a member of the Whig Party.The son of William Anthony and Mary Kennicut...
and served from November 19, 1884, to January 20, 1885, after which he resumed the practice of his profession. Sheffield died in Newport in 1907; interment was in the Island Cemetery.
Sheffield was the father of William Paine Sheffield, also a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.