William Davis Shipman (November 24 1818 – December 24 1905) was an American jurist who served as a United States district judge for the District of Connecticut from 1865 until his retirement in 1896.
Early life and education
Shipman was born in New London, Connecticut. He attended Yale College, graduating in 1839, and thereafter read law, gaining admission to the Connecticut bar in 1842.
Legal career
After admission to the bar, Shipman began private practice in Norwich, Connecticut. He held several local judicial positions, including serving as a probate judge and as a judge of the Connecticut Court of Common Pleas.
Federal judicial service
On March 6 1865, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Shipman to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, filling the vacancy left by Judge Andrew T. Judson. The United States Senate confirmed the nomination on March 6, 1865, and Shipman received his commission the same day. He presided over the Court for more than three decades, handling a wide range of civil and criminal matters arising in the state. Shipman assumed senior status on January 15 1896 and retired from active service shortly thereafter.
Later life and death
Following his retirement, Shipman returned to Norwich, where he lived until his death on December 24 1905. He was interred in the local historic cemetery.
Legacy
Shipman's tenure on the federal bench spanned a period of significant legal and social transformation in post‑Civil War America. While no single landmark decision is commonly attributed to him, his long service contributed to the development of federal jurisprudence in Connecticut during the late nineteenth century.
References
- Federal Judicial Center, “Biographical Directory of Federal Judges: William Davis Shipman.”
- Connecticut State Archives, judicial biographies.
- Yale University Alumni Records.