William Rawle

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William Rawle, after a portrait by Benjamin West.
William Rawle, after a portrait by Benjamin West.

William Rawle (April 28, 1759–April 12, 1836) was an American lawyer, born in Philadelphia.

Rawle was born in Philadelphia, where he studied at the Friends' Academy. He studied law in New York and at the Middle Temple, London, was admitted to the bar in 1783. In 1791 President Washington appointed him United States district attorney for Pennsylvania, in which capacity he prosecuted the leaders of the Whiskey Insurrection. He was counsel for the First Bank of the United States and in 1830 assisted in revising the civil code of Pennsylvania. He took much interest in science, philanthropy, and education, being a founder and first president of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, president of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, and for forty years a trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.

His publications include:

  • Vindication of Rev. Mr. Heckewelder's "History of the Indian Nations" (1818)
  • A View of the Constitution of the United States (1825; second edition, 1829)
  • Discourse on the Nature and Study of the Law (1832)
  • "An Address before the Philadelphia Society for promoting Agriculture" (1819)
  • "Two Addresses to the Associated Members of the Bar of Philadelphia" (1824)
  • "The Study of the Law" (1832)
  • "Biographical Sketch of Sir William Keith"
  • "A Sketch of the Life of Thomas Mifflin"
  • "Essay on Angelic Influences"

[edit] References

  • T. I. Wharton, "A Memoir of William Rawle, LL.D." in the Collections of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, volume iv (Philadelphia, 1840)

[edit] External links