William Cushing (March 1, 1732 – September 13, 1810) was an American lawyer who was one of the original five associate justices of the United States Supreme Court; confirmed by the United States Senate on September 26, 1789, he served until his death. His Supreme Court tenure of 20 years and 11 months was the longest among the Court's inaugural members. In January 1796, he was nominated by President George Washington to become the Court's Chief Justice; though confirmed, he declined the appointment. He was the last judge in the United States to wear a full wig as part of his court dress.
William Cushing
Supreme Court of the United States
Born 1732 in Scituate, MA
Died 1810 in Scituate, MA
FJC ID: 549
- Gender
- Male
- Race
- White
Prior employment
- Superior Court of MassachusettsJudge · 1772–1789
- ↳chief justice, 1777-1789 (name changed to Supreme Judicial Court in 1780)
- register of deeds, and probate court judge, Lincoln County, MaineJustice of the peace · 1760–1772
- Private practice, Scituate, Massachusetts1755–1760
Appointments
Education
- Read law1755
- Harvard CollegeA.B. · 1751