William Kneeland Townsend

William Kneeland Townsend
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Current Court Information:
Second Circuit
Title:	Former Judge
Position:	Seat #3
Alternative court:	United States Circuit Courts for the Second Circuit
Service:
Appointed by:	Theodore Roosevelt
Active:	1/21/1902-6/2/1907
Preceded by:	Nathaniel Shipman
Succeeded by:	Walter Chadwick Noyes
Past post:	District of Connecticut
Past term:	3/28/1892 - 1/21/1902
Past position:	Seat #1
Personal History
Born:	June 12, 1849
Home State:	New Haven, CT
Deceased:	June 2, 1907
Bachelors:	Yale, A.B., 1871
Law School:	Yale Law, LL.B., 1874
Grad. School:	Yale Law, D.C.L., 1880

William Kneeland Townsend (1849-1907) was a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. He joined the Second Circuit in 1902 after an appointment from Theodore Roosevelt. He joined the District of Connecticut in 1892 after an appointment from Benjamin Harrison. At the tim of his appointment, he was a Corporate Counsel in Connecticut. He served until his death on June 2, 1907.

Early life and education

• Yale College, A.B., 1871
• Yale Law School, LL.B., 1874
• Yale Law School, D.C.L., 1880

Professional career

• Private practice, New Haven, Connecticut, 1875-
• Attorney, New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, -1881
• Alderman, City of New Haven, Connecticut, 1880-1882
• Professor, Yale Law School, 1881-1907
• Corporation counsel, City of New Haven, Connecticut, 1889-1891

Judicial career

Second Circuit

Townsend was nominated to the Second Circuit by President Theodore Roosevelt on January 15, 1902 to a seat vacated by Nathaniel Shipman. He was confirmed by the Senate on January 21, 1902, and received commission that same day. He served until his death on June 2, 1907. He was succeeded to this post by Walter Chadwick Noyes.

District of Connecticut

Townsend was previously a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. He was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison on March 24, 1892. He was confirmed by the Senate on March 28, 1892, and received commission that same day. He served on this court until February 27, 1902. Townsend was succeeded in this position by James Perry Platt.

See also

• United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
• United States District Court for the District of Connecticut

External links

• William Kneeland Townsend's Biography from the Federal Judicial Center

References

Federal judicial offices
Preceded by: Nathaniel Shipman	District of Connecticut 1892–1902 Seat #1	Succeeded by: James Perry Platt
Preceded by: Nathaniel Shipman	Second Circuit 1902–1907 Seat #3	Succeeded by: Walter Chadwick Noyes