William Henry Welch, Sr. (June 1, 1805 – January 23, 1863) was an American jurist. Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, Welch graduated from Yale University and Yale Law School. He moved to Minnesota Territory in 1850 and settled in

St. Anthony Saint Anthony, Antony, or Antonius most often refers to Anthony of Padua, also known as Saint Anthony of Lisbon, the patron saint of lost things. This name may also refer to: People * Anthony of Antioch (266–302), Martyr under Diocletian. Feast ...

(now Minneapolis). Welch served as a

Justice of the Peace A justice of the peace (JP) is a judicial officer of a lower or ''puisne'' court, elected or appointed by means of a commission ( letters patent) to keep the peace. In past centuries the term commissioner of the peace was often used with the sa ...

. From 1853 to 1858, Welch served as Chief Justice of the

Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court Minnesota () is a U.S. state, state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 12th largest U.S. state in area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 22nd m ...

as appointed by

President Pierce Franklin Pierce (November 23, 1804October 8, 1869) was the 14th president of the United States, serving from 1853 to 1857. He was a northern Democrat who believed that the abolitionist movement was a fundamental threat to the nation's unity ...

. Welch was reappointed for another term by President Buchanan, but his term ended when Minnesota became a State. He moved to Red Wing, Minnesota in 1858 and died there.

References

1805 births 1863 deaths Politicians from Litchfield, Connecticut Politicians from Minneapolis People from Red Wing, Minnesota Yale Law School alumni Minnesota Territory judges 19th-century American judges Lawyers from Minneapolis 19th-century American lawyers {{Minnesota-state-judge-stub