Library of Congress

BRADFORD, William, a Senator from Rhode Island; born in Plympton, Plymouth County, Mass., November 4, 1729; studied medicine in Hingham, Mass., and afterwards practiced in Warren, R.I.; moved to Bristol, R.I.; abandoned the profession of medicine and studied law; admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1767 and commenced practice in Bristol; member, State house of representatives for several terms between 1761 and 1803, serving as speaker on several occasions; member of the Rhode Island Committee of Correspondence in 1773; deputy governor of Rhode Island 1775-1778; elected as a Delegate to the Continental Congress in 1776 but did not attend; elected to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1793, until October 1797, when he resigned; served as President pro tempore of the Senate during the Fifth Congress; retired to his home in Bristol, R.I., and died there on July 6, 1808; interment in East Burial Ground.