William Stephens

Who was William Stephens?

William Stephens was a United States federal judge.

Born in Bewlie, Georgia, Stephens was a Second Lieutenant in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, later becoming a Colonel of the Chatham County Militia, Georgia. He was a Clerk of the Common House of Assembly, Georgia from 1775, and from some point thereafter was Attorney General of Georgia until 1776. He served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia beginning in 1780, and was President of the City of Savannah, Georgia beginning in 1787, then as Mayor of City of Savannah, Georgia from 1793 to 1795. He was also a Judge on the Georgia Superior Court.

On October 22, 1801, Stephens received a recess appointment from President Thomas Jefferson to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Georgia vacated by Joseph Clay. Formally nominated on January 6, 1802, Stephens was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 26, 1802, and received his commission the same day. He resigned on October 13, 1818, and died in Savannah.