US Congressman, US Senator. An 1843 graduate of Harvard University, he was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1844. By that time he had already become involved in politics, serving as a State constitution convention delegate, and in the Rhode Island State Legislature. He served a number of non-consecutive terms in the State House in the years preceding the Civil War, and on it's eve challenged incumbent Congressman Christopher Robinson for the 1st District Congressional seat in the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Robinson, and on March 4, 1861 was sworn in to the office, barely a month before the Civil War erupted. He served a single term ending on March 3, 1863, and chose to not run for re-election (the seat subsequently going to Congressman Thomas Allen Jencks). He returned to Newport, Rhode Island, and resumed his law practice. In the mid-1870s he returned to politics, serving again in the State Legislature. In 1884 he was appointed as a Senator from Rhode Island to the United States Senate by Governor August O. Bourn to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Henry B. Anthony. He served from November 19, 1884 to January 20, 1885, then resumed his law practice, which he did until his death in 1907. His son, William Paine Sheffield Jr., served as a Congressman from Rhode Island from 1909 to 1911.
US Congressman, US Senator. An 1843 graduate of Harvard University, he was admitted to the Rhode Island Bar in 1844. By that time he had already become involved in politics, serving as a State constitution convention delegate, and in the Rhode Island State Legislature. He served a number of non-consecutive terms in the State House in the years preceding the Civil War, and on it's eve challenged incumbent Congressman Christopher Robinson for the 1st District Congressional seat in the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Robinson, and on March 4, 1861 was sworn in to the office, barely a month before the Civil War erupted. He served a single term ending on March 3, 1863, and chose to not run for re-election (the seat subsequently going to Congressman Thomas Allen Jencks). He returned to Newport, Rhode Island, and resumed his law practice. In the mid-1870s he returned to politics, serving again in the State Legislature. In 1884 he was appointed as a Senator from Rhode Island to the United States Senate by Governor August O. Bourn to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Henry B. Anthony. He served from November 19, 1884 to January 20, 1885, then resumed his law practice, which he did until his death in 1907. His son, William Paine Sheffield Jr., served as a Congressman from Rhode Island from 1909 to 1911.
Bio by: RPD2
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