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William Paterson (jurist)

William Paterson
William Paterson copy.jpg
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
In office
March 4, 1793 – September 9, 1806
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
(now United Kingdom)
Died September 9, 1806(1806-09-09) (aged 60)
Albany, New York, U.S.
Political party Federalist
Spouse(s) Cornelia Bell
(m. 1779; her death 1783)

Euphemia White
(m. 1785; his death 1806)
Parents Richard Paterson
Alma mater Princeton University (BA, MA)

William Paterson (December 24, 1745 – September 9, 1806) was a New Jersey statesman, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, who served as the second governor of New Jersey, from 1790 to 1793.

William Paterson was born December 24, 1745 in County Antrim, now in Northern Ireland, to Richard Paterson. Paterson moved to what is now the United States at age 2, and entered the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) at age 14. After graduating, he studied law with the prominent lawyer and was admitted to the bar in 1768. He also stayed connected to his alma mater and helped found the Cliosophic Society with Aaron Burr.

Paterson was selected as the Somerset County delegate for the first three provincial congresses of New Jersey, where, as secretary, he recorded the 1776 New Jersey State Constitution. After Independence, Paterson was appointed as the first Attorney General of New Jersey, serving from 1776 to 1783, maintaining law and order and establishing himself as one of the state's most prominent lawyers. He was sent to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he proposed the New Jersey Plan for a unicameral legislative body with equal representation from each state. After the Great Compromise (for two legislative bodies: a Senate with equal representation for each state, and a House of Representatives with representation based on population), the Constitution was signed.


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