William Cranch

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William Cranch (July 17, 1769 –September 1, 1855) was an American judge and the second reporter of decisions of the United States Supreme Court.

Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, he was a nephew of Abigail Adams. His father was Richard Cranch, an English-born clockmaker and his mother was Mary Smith, the elder sister of Abigail Smith Adams, wife of John Adams, the 2nd President of the United States.

At the time, the reporter was an unofficial post and he used his own funds to produce the reports. Cranch took on the responsibility because of his respect for precedent. He was slow in producing his reports of cases and their accuracy was questioned.

When a land speculation bankrupted him, his uncle John Adams rescued him by appointing him to be judge of the District of Columbia circuit court, where he served until his death. In his role as Chief Judge of this court he swore in two presidents, John Tyler and Millard Fillmore, who each assumed the presidency upon the death of their predecessor.

Cranch, like William Marbury, was one of the "Midnight Judges" appointed under the Judiciary Act of 1801 that led to the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison. During his tenure on the court, Cranch published a biography of Adams, and was a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

He died in Washington, D.C., aged 86.

Preceded by Alexander J. Dallas

Supreme Court of the United States Reporter of Decisions 1801 – 1815

Succeeded by Henry Wheaton