William J. Graham

William Johnson Graham (February 7, 1872 – November 10, 1937) was a United States Representative from Illinois and Presiding Judge of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals.

William J. Graham
Presiding Judge of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
In office
May 29, 1924  November 10, 1937
Appointed byCalvin Coolidge
Preceded byGeorge Ewing Martin
Succeeded byFinis J. Garrett
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 14th district
In office
March 4, 1917  June 7, 1924
Preceded byClyde Howard Tavenner
Succeeded byJohn Clayton Allen
Personal details
Born
William Johnson Graham

(1872-02-07)February 7, 1872
New Castle, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 10, 1937(1937-11-10) (aged 65)
Washington, D.C.
Resting placeAledo Cemetery
Aledo, Illinois
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign (B.L.)

Education and career

Born on February 7, 1872, in New Castle, Pennsylvania,[1] Graham moved to Illinois with his parents,[2] who settled near Aledo, Mercer County, Illinois in 1879,[2] and attended the public schools.[2] He received a Bachelor of Laws in 1893 from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and read law in 1895.[1] He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Aledo starting in 1895.[1] He was state's attorney for Mercer County from 1901 to 1909.[1] He was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1912.[2] He was a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1915 to 1916.[1]

Congressional service

Graham was elected as a Republican to the 65th United States Congress and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1917, to June 7, 1924, when he resigned to accept a federal judicial post.[2] He served as Chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the United States Department of War during the 66th United States Congress.[2]

Federal judicial service

Graham was nominated by President Calvin Coolidge on May 26, 1924, to the Presiding Judge seat on the United States Court of Customs Appeals (United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals from March 2, 1929) vacated by Presiding Judge George Ewing Martin.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 29, 1924, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on November 10, 1937, due to his death after suffering a heart attack at his home in Washington, D.C.[3] His remains were cremated and the ashes interred in Aledo Cemetery in Aledo.[2]

References

Sources

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Clyde Howard Tavenner
Member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois's 14th congressional district
1917–1924
Succeeded by
John Clayton Allen
Preceded by
Peter J. Dooling
Chairman of the House War Expenditures Committee
1919–1921
Succeeded by
Royal C. Johnson
Legal offices
Preceded by
George Ewing Martin
Presiding Judge of the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
1924–1937
Succeeded by
Finis J. Garrett
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