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:''This article is about the United States Secretary of the Treasury. For the Illinois senator, see William Alexander Richardson.'' William Adams Richardson (November 2, 1821 – October 19, 1896) was the 29th U.S. Secretary of Treasury and federal jurist. Richardson, appointed Secretary of Treasury by President Ulysses S. Grant served from 1873 to 1874. During Sec. Richardson's tenure the Panic of 1873 swept the nation and caused a depression that lasted five years. Richardson responded by controversially releasing $26,000,000 in paper money reserves in an inflationist measure to help alleviate the effects of the general panic. There was debate whether Richardson had the authority to do so, however, Congress had not passed a law to forbid such an action. Richardson secured the $15,000,000 award from the Alabama Claims through the retirement of United States bonds held in Europe. This was to ensure that no gold had to be transferred overseas by ship. Richardson's tenure was marred by the Sanborn Incident, where profiteering took place over the collection of taxes by John D. Sanborn. As pressure mounted for Richardson's resignation, Richardson resigned, while President Grant quietly appointed him Justice to the United States Court of Claims, where he served on the bench for the rest of his life. ==Early life and career== William Adams Richardson was born in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts on November 2, 1821. His father was Daniel Richardson who practiced law and was keeper of the post office. His mother's name was Mary Adams of Chelmsford. Richardson was the descendent of Ezekiel Richardson who settled in Massachusetts Bay in 1630. Richardson's mother died in 1825 and his sister became his step-mother the next year. Richardson studied at Pinkerton Academy and Lawrence Academy at Groton. Richardson then studied and graduated from Harvard University in 1843. He earned his LL.B. from Harvard Law School and passed the bar in July 1846. Richardson entered partnership and practiced law with his older brother Daniel Samuel who had a large practice in Lowell. As the junior law partner Richardson was considered to be a painstaking methodical office attorney. He served in the militia, first as a Judge Advocate with the rank of Major and later as an aide to Governor George N. Briggs with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He was president of the Common Council of Lowell 1853-1854, of the Wameset Bank, and of the Mechanics' Association. He was appointed to revise the statutes of Massachusetts in 1855, and subsequently chosen by the legislature to edit the annual supplements of the general statutes, which he continued to do for 22 years. He became judge of probate in 1856, and was judge of probate and insolvency from 1858 until 1872. He was an overseer of Harvard 1863-1875. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「William Adams Richardson」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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