William P. Bryant
William P. Bryant | |
|---|---|
| 1st Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
| In office 1848–1850 | |
| Preceded by | (none) |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Nelson |
| 1st Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
| In office 1848–1850 | |
| Nominated by | James K. Polk |
| Preceded by | (none) |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 3, 1806 Mercer County, Kentucky |
| Died | October 10, 1860 (aged 54) Rockville, Indiana |
William P. Bryant (August 3, 1806 – October 10, 1860) was an American jurist from Kentucky. He served as the first chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court in the Oregon Territory. United States President James K. Polk appointed Bryant, of Indiana, to the court once the Oregon Territory was established in 1848. In Indiana he served in both houses of the Indiana General Assembly and was a county judge. Bryant also fought in the Black Hawk War against Native Americans.
Early life
Bryant was born on August 3, 1806, in
Bryant started a law practice in 1840 with General T. A. Howard, and later served as a circuit court judge for Rockville.[1] After changing political party affiliations from Whig to Democrat, he was appointed by United States President James K. Polk to serve as chief justice of the three member Oregon Supreme Court.[1] Bryant was appointed on August 14, 1848, the same day the new Oregon Territory was created.[1] He migrated to the territory in 1849, arriving April 9.[2]
Oregon
While in Oregon, Bryant purchased an island and milling operation from George Abernethy in the Willamette River called Abernethy's Island.[2] However, the island near Oregon City was previously claimed by Doctor John McLoughlin.[2] Later this became an issue between McLoughlin and Samuel R. Thurston.[2] Thurston had worked the Donation Land Claim Act in Congress to exclude McLoughlin's claim to Oregon City and the island.[2]
Oregon Supreme Court
On August 14, 1848, Bryant was nominated by President Polk to be "chief justice of the supreme court of the United States for the Territory of Oregon" and was subsequently unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate.[3] He held his first session of court on August 20, 1849, in Oregon City.[1]
As the only federal judge in the territory, Bryant presided over the first criminal trial in what is now the state of
Following the murder,
The next year Chief Justice Bryant resigned from the court.[6] His resignation was effective January 1, 1851.[7]
Later years
After leaving the court, Bryant returned east. He first moved to the nation's capital in Washington, D.C., before returning to Indiana and his hometown of Rockville.[1] William Bryant died there on October 10, 1860.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
- ^ a b c d e Holman, Frederick Van Voorhies (1907). Dr. John McLoughlin, the Father of Oregon. Cleveland, Ohio: Arthur H. Clark Co. OCLC 1700852.
- ^ "MONDAY, August 14, 1848". Journal of the executive proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America, 1845-1848. Library of Congress. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "HistoryLink.org Essay 5684: First criminal trial in future Washington Territory convenes on October 2, 1849". The Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
- ^ Judicial History. Archived 2008-12-06 at the Wayback Machine Yamhill County Circuit Court. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
- ^ "Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Supreme Court Justices of Oregon" (PDF). Oregon Blue Book. The State of Oregon. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
- ^ Scott, Harvey W. (1890). History of Portland, Oregon, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Prominent Citizens. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. OCLC 45229845.
