William Tilghman
Encyclopedia
William Tilghman was an American lawyer, jurist and statesman from Maryland
. He served as the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania
State Supreme Court from 1805 to 1827.
Born in Talbot County, Maryland
, Tilghman was the nephew of Matthew Tilghman
and brother of Tench Tilghman
. Tilghman received an A.B.
from the College of Philadelphia, now the University of Pennsylvania
in 1772, and read law to enter the bar in 1783. He was in private practice Talbot County, Maryland
from 1783 to 1788. He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from 1788 to 1790, attending the Maryland Constitutional Convention in 1788, and serving as a presidential elector for the state in 1789. He was a member of the Maryland State Senate
from 1791 to 1793, moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in 1793 and resuming his private practice there from 1794 to 1801.
On February 26, 1801, Tilghman was nominated by President John Adams
to a new seat as a federal judge on the United States circuit court
for the Third Circuit, created by 2 Stat. 89. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on March 2, 1801, and received his commission the next day. He served as chief judge of the circuit throughout his tenure, but his service was terminated on March 8, 1802, due to abolition of the court.
Tilghman returned to private practice in Philadelphia from 1802 to 1805, and then became President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia in 1805, and a judge of the Pennsylvania High Court of Errors and Appeals until 1806. He became Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1806 until his death, in 1827, in Philadelphia. In 1811, ran for Governor of Pennsylvania, losing to Simon Snyder
. Tilghman was also a member of the American Philosophical Society
, serving as its president from 1824 to 1827.
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...
. He served as the Chief Justice of the 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...
State Supreme Court from 1805 to 1827.
Born in Talbot County, Maryland
Talbot County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*81.4% White*12.8% Black*0.2% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*2.7% Other races*5.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, Tilghman was the nephew of Matthew Tilghman
Matthew Tilghman
Matthew Tilghman was an American planter and Revolutionary leader from Maryland, who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776.-Early life:...
and brother of Tench Tilghman
Tench Tilghman
Tench Tilghman was an officer in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary war. He served as an aide de camp to General George Washington, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel....
. Tilghman received an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from 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...
in 1772, and read law to enter the bar in 1783. He was in private practice Talbot County, Maryland
Talbot County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*81.4% White*12.8% Black*0.2% Native American*1.2% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*2.7% Other races*5.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
from 1783 to 1788. He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
from 1788 to 1790, attending the Maryland Constitutional Convention in 1788, and serving as a presidential elector for the state in 1789. He was a member of the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
from 1791 to 1793, moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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,...
in 1793 and resuming his private practice there from 1794 to 1801.
On February 26, 1801, Tilghman was nominated by President John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
to a new seat as a federal judge on the United States circuit court
United States circuit court
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate...
for the Third Circuit, created by 2 Stat. 89. 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 March 2, 1801, and received his commission the next day. He served as chief judge of the circuit throughout his tenure, but his service was terminated on March 8, 1802, due to abolition of the court.
Tilghman returned to private practice in Philadelphia from 1802 to 1805, and then became President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia in 1805, and a judge of the Pennsylvania High Court of Errors and Appeals until 1806. He became Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1806 until his death, in 1827, in Philadelphia. In 1811, ran for Governor of Pennsylvania, losing to Simon Snyder
Simon Snyder
Simon Snyder was the third Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 1808 to 1817. A Jeffersonian Democrat, he served three terms as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives before becoming governor...
. Tilghman was also a member 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,...
, serving as its president from 1824 to 1827.