Williams, John, 1731-1799

<p>John Williams (March 14, 1731 – October 10, 1799) was a Founding Father of the United States and signer of its Articles of Confederation. He was one of the founders of the University of North Carolina. During the American Revolutionary War, Williams was a colonel in the North Carolina militia. In 1777 and 1778, he was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons and served as Speaker of the House. Williams was a member of the Continental Congress in 1778 and 1779.</p>

<p>Willams served as a superior court judge both during the colonial era and after the new state of North Carolina was established in 1776. Sitting alongside other superior court judges as part of a Court of Conference (forerunner to the North Carolina Supreme Court), Williams heard the landmark case, Bayard v. Singleton, which announced the principle of judicial review on the state level before Marbury v. Madison did so on the federal level.</p>

WILLIAMS, John, a Delegate from North Carolina; born in Hanover County, Va., March 14, 1731; moved to North Carolina in 1745 with his parents, who settled in Granville County; donated the land and laid out the town of Williamsboro, N.C.; studied law; was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Williamsboro; one of the founders of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; deputy attorney general in 1768; delegate to the Provincial Congress of 1775; member of the State house of commons in 1777 and 1778 and served as speaker; Member of the Continental Congress in 1778 and 1779; judge of the supreme court of North Carolina from 1779 until his death in Montpelier, near Williamsboro, N.C., October 10, 1799; interment in the family cemetery, Montpelier, N.C.

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1778 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>04/14/1778 NC State House Speaker Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1777 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1776 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>