Paterson, William, 1817-1899

William Paterson, the grandson of the Hon. William Paterson (1745-1806), was born in 1817. Paterson matriculated at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), and graduated from the school in 1835. In 1838, he was admitted to the New Jersey state bar. In addition to practicing law, Paterson went on to serve in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1842 to 1843, and was the secretary of the New Jersey state constitutional convention in 1844. Between the years 1846 and 1878, Paterson served as mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, for a total of ten years in that time span. His career culminated in 1882 with his appointment as a lay judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals.