William C. Adamson

William Charles Adamson
William Charles Adamson
Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office May 28, 1926 – January 20, 1928
Appointed by	Assigned to court by operation of law
Preceded by	Court created
Succeeded by	Genevieve R. Cline
Member of the Board of General Appraisers
In office September 24, 1917 – May 28, 1926
Appointed by	Woodrow Wilson
Preceded by	Henderson M. Somerville
Succeeded by	Board abolished
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 4th district
In office March 4, 1897 – December 18, 1917
Preceded by	Charles L. Moses
Succeeded by	William C. Wright
Personal details
Born	(1854-08-13)August 13, 1854 Bowdon, Georgia
Died	January 3, 1929(1929-01-03) (aged 74) New York City
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Bowdon College A.B.
Profession	Judge

William Charles Adamson (August 13, 1854 – January 3, 1929) was a U.S. Representative from Georgia and a Judge for the United States Customs Court.

Early life and education

Adamson was born on August 13, 1854, in Bowdon, Georgia. Adamson attended the common schools. He received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Bowdon College in 1874. He read law and was admitted to the bar in 1876 and commenced practice in Carrollton, Georgia. He served as judge of the city court of Carrollton from 1885 to 1889. He served as an attorney for the city of Carrollton for a number of years. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1892.^[1][2]

Congressional service

Adamson was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth and to the ten succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1897, until December 18, 1917, when he resigned. He served as chairman of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce (Sixty-second through Sixty-fifth Congresses).^[2] The Adamson Act, which regulated the hours of railroad workers, was named for him.

Federal Judicial Service

On September 20, 1917, President Wilson nominated Adamson to serve as a Member of the Board of General Appraisers, to the seat vacated by Henderson M. Somerville. He was confirmed by the Senate on September 20, 1917, and received his commission on September 24, 1917. On May 28, 1926, he was transferred by operation of law to the newly created United States Customs Court. He served on the court until his retirement on January 20, 1928, and was succeeded by Judge Genevieve R. Cline.^[1]

Retirement and death

Adamson resumed the practice of law in Carrollton, Georgia. He died while on a visit in New York City, January 3, 1929. He was interred in City Cemetery, Carrollton. Adamson Square in downtown Carrollton was named in his honor.^[1][2]

References

• William C. Adamson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

• United States Congress. "William C. Adamson (id: A000051)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 
• William C. Adamson at Find-A-Grave
• William C. Adamson at AdamsonAncestry

Wikimedia Commons has media related to William C. Adamson.

Chairmen of the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Commerce and Manufactures (1795–1819)	Goodhue Swanwick Livingston S. Smith Mitchill Crowninshield Mumford Newton
Commerce (1819–1893)	Newton Cambreleng Sutherland F. Smith Cushman Curtis Kennedy Holmes McClelland Hunt McLane Seymour Fuller Washburne Cochrane Washburne Eliot Dixon Shellabarger Wheeler Hereford Ward Reagan Page Reagan Clardy Baker
Interstate and Foreign Commerce (1893–1981)	Wise Hepburn Mann Adamson Sims Esch Winslow Parker Rayburn Lea Wolverton Crosser Wolverton Priest Harris Staggers
Energy and Commerce (1981–present)	Dingell Bliley Tauzin Barton Dingell Waxman Upton Walden (Designate)

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.