William Adams Richardson

William Adams Richardson
Chief Justice of the Court of Claims
In office
January 20, 1885 – October 19, 1896
Appointed byChester A. Arthur
Preceded byCharles D. Drake
Succeeded byCharles C. Nott
Judge of the Court of Claims
In office
June 2, 1874 – January 20, 1885
Appointed byUlysses S. Grant
Preceded bySamuel Milligan
Succeeded byJohn Davis
29th United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office
March 17, 1873 – June 3, 1874
PresidentUlysses S. Grant
Preceded byGeorge S. Boutwell
Succeeded byBenjamin Bristow
Personal details
Born
William Adams Richardson

(1821-11-02)November 2, 1821
Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedOctober 19, 1896(1896-10-19) (aged 74)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting placeOak Hill Cemetery
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Education

William Adams Richardson (November 2, 1821 – October 19, 1896) was an American lawyer who served as the 29th United States secretary of the treasury from 1873 to 1874. During his tenure, the Panic of 1873 swept the nation and caused a depression that lasted five years. He controversially responded by issuing $26 million in greenbacks, which averted the crisis, although there was debate as to whether he had the authority to do so. His tenure was marred by the Sanborn incident in 1874, which involved favoritism and profiteering in the collection of unpaid taxes. He was later appointed a judge, and subsequently the chief justice, of the United States Court of Claims.