Biography

Judge William Kent was born on October 2, 1802, the son of noted jurist James and Elizabeth (Bailey) Kent. Sources differ as to whether he was born in NYC or Albany, NY. He graduated from Union College with a B.A. in 1820 and M.A. in 1823.

He studied law and practiced in NYC. He was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court of New York City by Governor Seward, serving from 1841 to 1845. Kent resigned that post to accept the Royall professorship of law at Harvard, which he held in 1846-1847. He resigned that post, and returned to NYC. He was one of the founders of the New York University Law School.

Kent ran for New York State Lieutenant Governor as a Whig in 1852, but lost to Democrat Sanford Church. (Gov. Washington Hunt headed the Whig Party ticket that year, but lost his re-election bid to Democrat Horatio Seymour.)

On November 2, 1821, Kent married Helen Riggs of NYC, the granddaughter of Col. William Burnett, the Surveyor-General of the Continental Army. They had one son, James, born on September 21, 1830. Judge William Kent died on January 4, 1861, at Fishkill Landing, NY (now Beacon, NY).