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William Bristol

1779 – 1836

United States federal judge

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About William Bristol

Lived 1779 – 1836 (aged 56). William Bristol was an American lawyer, judge and politician.

William Bristol (June 2, 1779 – March 7, 1836) was a Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.

Education and career Born on June 2, 1779, in Hamden, Connecticut, Bristol graduated from Yale University in 1798 and read law in 1800, with David Daggett. He entered private practice in New Haven starting in 1800. He was United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut starting in 1812. He was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1817. He was a member of the Connecticut Senate from 1818 to 1819. He was an alderman for New Haven in 1818, 1821, and 1826. He was a Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court and justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors (now the Connecticut Supreme Court) from 1819 to 1826. He was the mayor of New Haven in 1827.

Federal judicial service Bristol was nominated by President John Quincy Adams on May 15, 1826, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut vacated by Judge Pierpont Edwards. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 22, 1826, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on March 7, 1836, due to his death in New Haven. He was interred in Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven.

Family Bristol married Sarah Edwards of New Haven in New Haven, on January 6, 1805. Sarah died on December 24, 1866, aged 86 years.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Read law, Yale University
Positions held
Member of the State Senate of Connecticut, Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives

People in William Bristol's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Bristol's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Bristol?

United States federal judge

When was William Bristol born?

William Bristol was born on 2 June 1779 in Hamden.

When did William Bristol die?

William Bristol died on 7 May 1836 in New Haven.

What was William Bristol's occupation?

William Bristol was a lawyer, judge and politician.

What nationality was William Bristol?

William Bristol was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Bristol

· Wikidata: Q8005940

· DBpedia: William Bristol

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Bristol. https://biography.guide/william-bristol/

MLA: "William Bristol." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-bristol/.

Chicago: "William Bristol." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-bristol/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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