Biography

William Hale Maynard (November 23, 1786 in Conway, then in Hampshire Co., now in Franklin County, Massachusetts – August 28, 1832 in New York City) was an American lawyer, newspaper editor and politician from New York.

He was the son of Malachi Maynard and Anna (Hale) Maynard. He graduated from Williams College in 1810. Then he studied law with Joseph Kirkland at New Hartford, NY, and was admitted to the bar. From 1811 on, he edited the Utica Patriot.

He was an Anti-Masonic member of the New York State Senate (5th D.) from 1829 until his death in 1832, sitting in the 52nd, 53rd, 54th and 55th New York State Legislatures.

Maynard died on August 28, 1832, of cholera while preparing in New York City to attend the session of the Court for the Correction of Errors (then the highest court in the State, composed of the Chancellor, the Supreme Court justices and the State Senate); and was buried at the Hamilton College Cemetery in Clinton, NY.

Maynard never married. In his will, he bequeathed $20,000 to establish a law school at Hamilton College.