William Kneeland Townsend (S&B 1871)
Judge. Yale University. Skull and Bones.
After his graduation and a year in Europe he enteredthe Yale Law School, receiving the degree of Bachelorof Laws in 1874, and after further study winning thedegree of Master of Laws in 1878, and Doctor of Civil Law.[4]
1902 to 1907 - Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit by President Theodore Roosevelt (Freemason)[3]
Preceded by Nathaniel Shipam (related to Arthur Leffingwell Shipman (S&B 1886) and many more). Succeeded by Walter Chadwick Noyes
28 Mar 1892 to 1902, Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut by President Theodore Roosevelt.[3] He was appointed Judge of the United States District Court, District of Connecticut, and in 1902 was appointed to the office of Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit, succeeding Judge Shipman (Y C. 1848).[4] After Judge Townsend’s appointment to the latter office his duties obliged him to reliquish instruction in the Law School, but he retained his seat on the Governing Board, and was an active and helpful counselor in the general affairs of the institution.[4]
Preceded by Nathaniel Shipam (related to Arthur Leffingwell Shipman (S&B 1886) and many more). Succeeded by Walter Chadwick Noyes
1889 to 1891 - Corporation Counsel of New Haven, Connecticut by President Benjamin Harrison. [3] For several years he was active in the political life of the city, being elected a member of the Common Council in 1878 and of the Board of Aldermen from 1880 to 1882.[4]
Preceded by Nathaniel Shipam (related to Arthur Leffingwell Shipman (S&B 1886) and many more). Succeeded by James Perry Platt.
1881 to 1907 - Professor of Law at Yale Law School.[3][4] Elected Professor of Pleading in the Yale Law School, also giving instruction in Contracts, and upon the foundation of the Edward J Phelps Professorship of Contracts and Commercial Law in 1887 he was appointed to that chair, substituting for the subject of Pleading those of Admiralty and Sales.[4] His thorough knowledge of the law and ready command of its resources and his consideration of the student’s stand point made him a favorite in the class room.[4]
1881, He published the “New Connecticut Civil Officer” , which was adopted as a text book in the Law School, contributed to various magazines, and in 1901 wrote a “History of American Law of Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Admiralty,” four valuable papers for the bicentennial volume of legal studies issued by the Law Faculty.[4]
1880, After his admission to the bar in 1874 he was for some years associated with Judge Simeon E. Baldwin. Later with Professor George Watrous (Y. C 1879) he formed the firm of Townsend & Watrous.[4]
1 Jul 1874 - Married, Mary Leaven-worth, daughter of Winston John and Mary (Leaven-worth) Trowbridge of New Haven Mrs Townsend survives him with one son, George H Townsend (S&B 1908), 2d, a member of the Junior class in the Academical Department. An older son died during his Freshman year in college, and in his memory Judge Townsend established the Winston Trowbridge Townsend prizes in the Freshman class. An only daughter died a short time after her marriage to Dwight Huntington Day (YC. S&B 1899). His brother, James Mulford Townsend, LL B (YC S&B 1874), has been a Lecturer in the Law School since 1887. Judge Townsend was universally beloved for his broad democracy his kindle humor, his unconquerable spirit, andhis devotion to the highest ideals of his profession.[4]
1871 - Graduated Yale, Skull and Bones Patriarch.[1]
Died 2 Jun 1907, from Not Known. Age 58
[3] - Skull and Bones Membership List by David Luhrssen
[4] - Yale Obituary - Page 84 / On the page 750
[5] - Find a Grave -William Kneeland Townsend (S&B 1871)
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