William Adams Richardson

William Adams Richardson (November 2, 1821 – October 19, 1896) was an American lawyer and public servant who held several prominent federal positions in the latter half of the nineteenth century. He served as the United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1873 to 1874 during a period of economic crisis, and later became a judge and ultimately chief justice of the United States Court of Claims. His career spanned legal practice, state judiciary roles, legislative editing work, and academic teaching.

Early life and career

Richardson was born in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts on November 2, 1821. He received his early education at Pinkerton Academy and Lawrence Academy in Groton. In 1843 he earned an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Harvard University; three years later he completed both a Master of Arts (Artium Magister) and a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the Massachusetts bar in July 1846.

After admission, Richardson entered private practice in Lowell, Massachusetts. He partnered with his older brother Daniel Samuel, who had an established legal practice in the city; as the junior partner he was noted for meticulous work. His public service began at the local level: from 1847 to 1854 he served as a justice of the peace for Middlesex County. In addition, he held military roles within the state militia, first as a judge advocate with the rank of major and later as an aide to Governor George N. Briggs with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Between 1852 and 1853 Richardson was president of a bank in Wamesit, Massachusetts. He also served as president of Lowell’s Common Council from 1853 to 1854 and led the Mechanics’ Association. In 1855 he was appointed by the state legislature to revise the statutes of Massachusetts; for twenty‑two years he edited the annual supplements of the general statutes. His judicial experience expanded when he became a judge of the Middlesex County Probate Court (1856–58) and subsequently served on the Middlesex County Probate and Insolvency Courts from 1858 until 1872.

Richardson’s involvement with Harvard continued as an overseer from 1863 to 1875. He also contributed to legal scholarship, authoring works such as *The Banking Laws of Massachusetts* (1855) and co‑editing the *Supplement to the General Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts* (1860–1882). From 1874 to 1891 he edited the Supplement to the Revised Statutes of the United States. In addition, Richardson taught law at Georgetown Law from 1879 until 1894.

Cabinet tenure

Richardson entered federal service as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in 1869 and served in that capacity until 1872. During his tenure he also acted as Attorney General for the Department of Justice in 1870. In 1873 President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him United States Secretary of the Treasury, a position he held until 1874.

His term coincided with the Panic of 1873, an economic downturn that lasted five years. To address the sudden contraction in the money supply caused by banks calling in loans, Richardson issued $26 million in greenbacks—paper currency—to meet demand and alleviate the crisis. The legality of this action was debated; however, Congress had not passed legislation prohibiting such a measure, and it did not intervene.

In addition to monetary policy, Richardson secured a $15 million award from the Alabama Claims by retiring United States bonds held in Europe. This maneuver ensured that gold would not need to be transferred overseas by ship.

Richardson’s tenure was also marked by the Sanborn incident of 1874. The episode involved allegations of favoritism and profiteering in the collection of unpaid taxes. Public pressure mounted for his removal; Richardson resigned, and President Grant accepted his resignation. To preserve his standing within the administration, Grant appointed him as a judge on the Court of Claims.

Legacy

On June 1, 1874, President Ulysses S. Grant nominated Richardson to a judgeship on the United States Court of Claims, filling the vacancy left by Judge Samuel Milligan. The Senate confirmed him on June 2, and he received his commission that same day. He served as judge until January 20, 1885, when he was elevated to chief justice of the court.

President Chester A. Arthur nominated Richardson for the chief justice seat on January 15, 1885; the Senate confirmed the appointment on January 20, and he received his commission that day. He remained chief justice until his death in Washington, D.C., on October 19, 1896. He was interred at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

Beyond his judicial duties, Richardson continued to influence legal practice through editorial work. His publications included *Practical Information Concerning the Public Debt of the United States* (1872), and he prepared and edited several editions of the *Supplement to the Revised Statutes of the United States*. He also authored historical works on the Court of Claims, such as *History, Jurisdiction, and Practice of the Court of Claims* (1882–85).

Richardson’s career reflects a trajectory from local legal practice to national fiscal policy and judicial leadership. His actions during the Panic of 1873 illustrate early federal intervention in monetary affairs, while his subsequent service on the Court of Claims contributed to the development of federal claims adjudication. His editorial and scholarly efforts helped shape statutory interpretation and legal education throughout the late nineteenth century.