William Paterson (judge)

William Paterson
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
In office March 11, 1793 – September 9, 1806[1]
Nominated by	George Washington
Preceded by	Thomas Johnson
Succeeded by	Henry Livingston
2nd Governor of New Jersey
In office October 29, 1790 – March 30, 1793
Preceded by	Elisha Lawrence (acting)
Succeeded by	Thomas Henderson (acting)
United States Senator from New Jersey
In office March 4, 1789 – November 13, 1790
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Philemon Dickinson
Attorney General of New Jersey
In office 1776–1783
Governor	William Livingston
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Joseph Bloomfield
Personal details
Born	(1745-12-24)December 24, 1745 County Antrim, Ireland
Died	September 9, 1806(1806-09-09) (aged 60) Albany, New York, U.S.
Political party	Federalist
Spouses	Cornelia Bell ​ ​ (m. 1779; died 1783)​ Euphemia White ​ (m. 1785)​
Children	3
Education	Princeton University (BA, MA)
Signature

William Paterson (December 24, 1745 – September 9, 1806) was an American statesman, lawyer, jurist, and signer of the United States Constitution. He was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the second governor of New Jersey, and a Founding Father of the United States.

Born in County Antrim, Ireland, Paterson moved to the North American British colonies at a young age. After graduating from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and studying law under Richard Stockton, he was admitted to the bar in 1768. He helped write the 1776 Constitution of New Jersey and served as the New Jersey Attorney General from 1776 to 1783. He represented New Jersey at the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, where he proposed the New Jersey Plan, which would have provided for equal representation among the states in Congress.

After the ratification of the Constitution, Paterson served in the United States Senate from 1789 to 1790, helping to draft the Judiciary Act of 1789. He resigned from the Senate to take office as governor of New Jersey. In 1793, he accepted appointment by President George Washington to serve as an associate justice of the Supreme Court. He served on the court until his death in 1806.