William Cranch

William Cranch
Chief Judge of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
In office February 24, 1806 – September 1, 1855
Appointed by	Thomas Jefferson
Preceded by	William Kilty
Succeeded by	James Dunlop
Judge of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
In office March 3, 1801 – February 24, 1806
Appointed by	John Adams
Preceded by	Seat established by 2 Stat. 103
Succeeded by	Allen Bowie Duckett
2nd Reporter of Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States
In office 1801–1815
Preceded by	Alexander J. Dallas
Succeeded by	Henry Wheaton
7th Commissioner of the Federal City
In office January 14, 1801 – March 3, 1801
Preceded by	Gustavus Scott
Succeeded by	Tristram Dalton
Personal details
Born	(1769-07-17)July 17, 1769 Weymouth, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British America
Died	September 1, 1855(1855-09-01) (aged 86) Washington, D.C.
Resting place	Congressional Cemetery Washington, D.C.
Political party	Federalist
Spouse	Nancy Greenleaf (m. 1795)
Children	4 (including Christopher Pearse Cranch and John Cranch)
Parent(s)	Richard Cranch Mary Smith
Relatives	William Greenleaf Eliot (son in law) Henry Ware Eliot (grandson) T. S. Eliot (great-grandson)
Education	Harvard University
Signature

William Cranch (July 17, 1769 – September 1, 1855) was a United States circuit judge and chief judge of the United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia. A staunch Federalist and nephew of President John Adams, Cranch moved his legal practice from Massachusetts to the new national capital, where he became one of three city land commissioners for Washington, D.C., and during his judicial service also was the 2nd Reporter of Decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States and a Professor of law at Columbian College (which later became George Washington University).^[1]