The following biography appears in the "Genealogical and Memorial Encyclopedia of the State of Maryland, A Record of the Achievements of her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation;"
WILLIAM SHEPARD BRYAN, Jr.
... achieved eminence at the Baltimore bar argues in itself a man of highest attainment, and no higher eulogy of William S. Bryan, Jr. is possible than to state that he was one of the brightest legal lights of that bar and at one time attorney general of the State of Maryland.
Brilliant, learned, he was a formidable, aggressive adversary, but honorable in his legal controversies, jolding sacred the highest ideals of the profession he honored. Keen and caustic in his wit, but lovable and warm-hearted, his nature a true gentleman under every condition.
He was extremely independent in thought and action, conservative rather than radical, but despised vacillation or indecision. His mind was a storehouse of facts, legal principles, adjudicated cases, historical and classical allusions, upon which he drew freely. He also possessed a fund of illustrations which were neither historical nor classical, but always conveyed the idea he was seeking to illuminate. He was so positive in his own nature that he had no patience with lawyer or judge who, to use one of his own favorite illustrations, concluded that "two and two made about four." Few men in the State were more successful than he in the practice of their professions, and no man in the State had so wide an acquaintance.
He knew men in every walk of life and his interest in the public welfare was keen and unremitting. He was adviser to the Democratic party of Maryland, and himself, a Democrat of the highest type, he fought for political honesty and integrity, hating the shams of pretense, judging men of his own party as well as the opposition, not by their own claims for preferment, but by their true merit to serve the people well in the office to which they aspired. He loved the excitement of a close political contest and was at his best when pleading with an audience of voters to support the principles and the candidates of his party. His wit and readiness at repartee charmed his friends and made him ever a most welcome guest, and he was the most loyal of friends.
William Shepard Bryan, Jr., son of Judge William S. Bryan, of the Court of Appeals, was born in Baltimore in 1859, died in the city of his birth, April 3, 1914. His father, a native son of North Carolina, and a warm southern sympathizer, married Elizabeth Edmondson Hayward, of Talbot County, Maryland, and located in Baltimore, where he became an eminent member of the bar, and judge of the Court of Appeals.
After leaving St. Michael's School, Reisterstown, the son attended Bethel Military Academy, at Farquier County, Virginia; later entered the law school of the University of Virginia, having previously read law in his father's office, whence he was graduated. He returned to Baltimore, and was admitted to the bar and began practice, and but a few years passed ere he had assumed an important position among the rising young lawyers of the city. During those first years he was at one time a partner with George R. Gaither.
In 1891 he formed a partnership with Edward N. Rich, an old school chum, and for about eleven years he practiced in partnership with A. deR. Sappington. He became one of the foremost lawyers of his day and could have become a judge, but he never desired to be, saying that he was not suited temperamentally for the bench.
Mr. Bryan was eminently fair in his conduct of law cases, this endearing him to his opponents in the face of the fact that he often lost his temper, saying or doing things that would ordinarily offend. At times he incurred criticism for seeming to be in contempt of court. One judge remarked upon one occasion that Mr. Bryan "was not in contempt of court because he did not mean to be." In his conversation out of court he generally worked around to a legal question, his mind trained in that channel so thoroughly that he could not help himself. But he was a wide reader of other than law books; biography, history and mythology interested him, and he was well informed on general literature. His power of concentration was wonderful. When he read any judge's opinion he studied beyond the point decided, to learn something of the character of the man who rendered the decision.
He was essentially a controversialist, a lover of debate on public questions, a critic of legislators, editors, and reformers. Conservative in his own views he was opposed to men of the Roosevelt and Bryan type, saying of the latter, "His name is too much like my own for me to like him."
It was not long after Mr. Bryan's admission to the bar before he was discovered by the Democratic party organization as of superior merit, and he became one of the party leaders and counselors. He was elected counsel to the board of election supervisors, the first city attorney, city counselor, first city solicitor and was attorney general of the State of Maryland during Governor Warfield's administration, that being the last public office he held. He did not seek office, neither did he decline it, believing that it was every man's duty to stick to his party through thick and thin, and he hated a "bolter." He was chief adviser to I. Freeman Rasin when he was at the head of the party in Baltimore, and was held in high esteem by Mr. Rasin's friends, from the fact that his opinions and advice were found to be sound. Mr. Rasin did not always follow Mr. Bryan's advice, but heeded it very often to his own advantage.
About a year prior to his death, Mr. Bryan decided to enter the race for United States senator, to succeed Senator Lee, and wrote to President Wilson stating that fact. Although encouraged by his friends to make the attempt, he finally decided not to do so. Although he had many warm friends he cared little for society and always remained a bachelor. He was extremely fond of baseball and attended as many games as he possibly could and delivered the address of congratulation to the "Orioles," in October, 1894, the year they first won the championship.
The death of Mr. Bryan called for expressions of regret and eulogy from the bench and bar, and the State of Maryland officially recognized the blow which had fallen upon the commonwealth through the following resolutions, offered and adopted by both Houses of the Legislature.
Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, that in the death of Mr. Bryan the state has suffered the loss of a conscientious, able and devoted official who, as attorney-general of the State of Maryland, rendered to this commonwealth services of the highest value. An eminent and distinguished lawyer, a man of the highest integrity, of great energy and industry, he was ever interested in the public welfare and was always faithful to the best interests of the State.
Resolved further, that this resolution be found in the acts of the year nineteen hundred and fourteen.
As soon as Governor Goldsborough learned of the death of Mr. Bryan he ordered the national flag placed at half staff on the State House dome and to remain so displayed
until after the funeral.
WILLIAM SHEPARD BRYAN, Jr.
... achieved eminence at the Baltimore bar argues in itself a man of highest attainment, and no higher eulogy of William S. Bryan, Jr. is possible than to state that he was one of the brightest legal lights of that bar and at one time attorney general of the State of Maryland.
Brilliant, learned, he was a formidable, aggressive adversary, but honorable in his legal controversies, jolding sacred the highest ideals of the profession he honored. Keen and caustic in his wit, but lovable and warm-hearted, his nature a true gentleman under every condition.
He was extremely independent in thought and action, conservative rather than radical, but despised vacillation or indecision. His mind was a storehouse of facts, legal principles, adjudicated cases, historical and classical allusions, upon which he drew freely. He also possessed a fund of illustrations which were neither historical nor classical, but always conveyed the idea he was seeking to illuminate. He was so positive in his own nature that he had no patience with lawyer or judge who, to use one of his own favorite illustrations, concluded that "two and two made about four." Few men in the State were more successful than he in the practice of their professions, and no man in the State had so wide an acquaintance.
He knew men in every walk of life and his interest in the public welfare was keen and unremitting. He was adviser to the Democratic party of Maryland, and himself, a Democrat of the highest type, he fought for political honesty and integrity, hating the shams of pretense, judging men of his own party as well as the opposition, not by their own claims for preferment, but by their true merit to serve the people well in the office to which they aspired. He loved the excitement of a close political contest and was at his best when pleading with an audience of voters to support the principles and the candidates of his party. His wit and readiness at repartee charmed his friends and made him ever a most welcome guest, and he was the most loyal of friends.
William Shepard Bryan, Jr., son of Judge William S. Bryan, of the Court of Appeals, was born in Baltimore in 1859, died in the city of his birth, April 3, 1914. His father, a native son of North Carolina, and a warm southern sympathizer, married Elizabeth Edmondson Hayward, of Talbot County, Maryland, and located in Baltimore, where he became an eminent member of the bar, and judge of the Court of Appeals.
After leaving St. Michael's School, Reisterstown, the son attended Bethel Military Academy, at Farquier County, Virginia; later entered the law school of the University of Virginia, having previously read law in his father's office, whence he was graduated. He returned to Baltimore, and was admitted to the bar and began practice, and but a few years passed ere he had assumed an important position among the rising young lawyers of the city. During those first years he was at one time a partner with George R. Gaither.
In 1891 he formed a partnership with Edward N. Rich, an old school chum, and for about eleven years he practiced in partnership with A. deR. Sappington. He became one of the foremost lawyers of his day and could have become a judge, but he never desired to be, saying that he was not suited temperamentally for the bench.
Mr. Bryan was eminently fair in his conduct of law cases, this endearing him to his opponents in the face of the fact that he often lost his temper, saying or doing things that would ordinarily offend. At times he incurred criticism for seeming to be in contempt of court. One judge remarked upon one occasion that Mr. Bryan "was not in contempt of court because he did not mean to be." In his conversation out of court he generally worked around to a legal question, his mind trained in that channel so thoroughly that he could not help himself. But he was a wide reader of other than law books; biography, history and mythology interested him, and he was well informed on general literature. His power of concentration was wonderful. When he read any judge's opinion he studied beyond the point decided, to learn something of the character of the man who rendered the decision.
He was essentially a controversialist, a lover of debate on public questions, a critic of legislators, editors, and reformers. Conservative in his own views he was opposed to men of the Roosevelt and Bryan type, saying of the latter, "His name is too much like my own for me to like him."
It was not long after Mr. Bryan's admission to the bar before he was discovered by the Democratic party organization as of superior merit, and he became one of the party leaders and counselors. He was elected counsel to the board of election supervisors, the first city attorney, city counselor, first city solicitor and was attorney general of the State of Maryland during Governor Warfield's administration, that being the last public office he held. He did not seek office, neither did he decline it, believing that it was every man's duty to stick to his party through thick and thin, and he hated a "bolter." He was chief adviser to I. Freeman Rasin when he was at the head of the party in Baltimore, and was held in high esteem by Mr. Rasin's friends, from the fact that his opinions and advice were found to be sound. Mr. Rasin did not always follow Mr. Bryan's advice, but heeded it very often to his own advantage.
About a year prior to his death, Mr. Bryan decided to enter the race for United States senator, to succeed Senator Lee, and wrote to President Wilson stating that fact. Although encouraged by his friends to make the attempt, he finally decided not to do so. Although he had many warm friends he cared little for society and always remained a bachelor. He was extremely fond of baseball and attended as many games as he possibly could and delivered the address of congratulation to the "Orioles," in October, 1894, the year they first won the championship.
The death of Mr. Bryan called for expressions of regret and eulogy from the bench and bar, and the State of Maryland officially recognized the blow which had fallen upon the commonwealth through the following resolutions, offered and adopted by both Houses of the Legislature.
Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, that in the death of Mr. Bryan the state has suffered the loss of a conscientious, able and devoted official who, as attorney-general of the State of Maryland, rendered to this commonwealth services of the highest value. An eminent and distinguished lawyer, a man of the highest integrity, of great energy and industry, he was ever interested in the public welfare and was always faithful to the best interests of the State.
Resolved further, that this resolution be found in the acts of the year nineteen hundred and fourteen.
As soon as Governor Goldsborough learned of the death of Mr. Bryan he ordered the national flag placed at half staff on the State House dome and to remain so displayed
until after the funeral.
The following biography appears in the "Genealogical and Memorial Encyclopedia of the State of Maryland, A Record of the Achievements of her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation;"
WILLIAM SHEPARD BRYAN, Jr.
... achieved eminence at the Baltimore bar argues in itself a man of highest attainment, and no higher eulogy of William S. Bryan, Jr. is possible than to state that he was one of the brightest legal lights of that bar and at one time attorney general of the State of Maryland.
Brilliant, learned, he was a formidable, aggressive adversary, but honorable in his legal controversies, jolding sacred the highest ideals of the profession he honored. Keen and caustic in his wit, but lovable and warm-hearted, his nature a true gentleman under every condition.
He was extremely independent in thought and action, conservative rather than radical, but despised vacillation or indecision. His mind was a storehouse of facts, legal principles, adjudicated cases, historical and classical allusions, upon which he drew freely. He also possessed a fund of illustrations which were neither historical nor classical, but always conveyed the idea he was seeking to illuminate. He was so positive in his own nature that he had no patience with lawyer or judge who, to use one of his own favorite illustrations, concluded that "two and two made about four." Few men in the State were more successful than he in the practice of their professions, and no man in the State had so wide an acquaintance.
He knew men in every walk of life and his interest in the public welfare was keen and unremitting. He was adviser to the Democratic party of Maryland, and himself, a Democrat of the highest type, he fought for political honesty and integrity, hating the shams of pretense, judging men of his own party as well as the opposition, not by their own claims for preferment, but by their true merit to serve the people well in the office to which they aspired. He loved the excitement of a close political contest and was at his best when pleading with an audience of voters to support the principles and the candidates of his party. His wit and readiness at repartee charmed his friends and made him ever a most welcome guest, and he was the most loyal of friends.
William Shepard Bryan, Jr., son of Judge William S. Bryan, of the Court of Appeals, was born in Baltimore in 1859, died in the city of his birth, April 3, 1914. His father, a native son of North Carolina, and a warm southern sympathizer, married Elizabeth Edmondson Hayward, of Talbot County, Maryland, and located in Baltimore, where he became an eminent member of the bar, and judge of the Court of Appeals.
After leaving St. Michael's School, Reisterstown, the son attended Bethel Military Academy, at Farquier County, Virginia; later entered the law school of the University of Virginia, having previously read law in his father's office, whence he was graduated. He returned to Baltimore, and was admitted to the bar and began practice, and but a few years passed ere he had assumed an important position among the rising young lawyers of the city. During those first years he was at one time a partner with George R. Gaither.
In 1891 he formed a partnership with Edward N. Rich, an old school chum, and for about eleven years he practiced in partnership with A. deR. Sappington. He became one of the foremost lawyers of his day and could have become a judge, but he never desired to be, saying that he was not suited temperamentally for the bench.
Mr. Bryan was eminently fair in his conduct of law cases, this endearing him to his opponents in the face of the fact that he often lost his temper, saying or doing things that would ordinarily offend. At times he incurred criticism for seeming to be in contempt of court. One judge remarked upon one occasion that Mr. Bryan "was not in contempt of court because he did not mean to be." In his conversation out of court he generally worked around to a legal question, his mind trained in that channel so thoroughly that he could not help himself. But he was a wide reader of other than law books; biography, history and mythology interested him, and he was well informed on general literature. His power of concentration was wonderful. When he read any judge's opinion he studied beyond the point decided, to learn something of the character of the man who rendered the decision.
He was essentially a controversialist, a lover of debate on public questions, a critic of legislators, editors, and reformers. Conservative in his own views he was opposed to men of the Roosevelt and Bryan type, saying of the latter, "His name is too much like my own for me to like him."
It was not long after Mr. Bryan's admission to the bar before he was discovered by the Democratic party organization as of superior merit, and he became one of the party leaders and counselors. He was elected counsel to the board of election supervisors, the first city attorney, city counselor, first city solicitor and was attorney general of the State of Maryland during Governor Warfield's administration, that being the last public office he held. He did not seek office, neither did he decline it, believing that it was every man's duty to stick to his party through thick and thin, and he hated a "bolter." He was chief adviser to I. Freeman Rasin when he was at the head of the party in Baltimore, and was held in high esteem by Mr. Rasin's friends, from the fact that his opinions and advice were found to be sound. Mr. Rasin did not always follow Mr. Bryan's advice, but heeded it very often to his own advantage.
About a year prior to his death, Mr. Bryan decided to enter the race for United States senator, to succeed Senator Lee, and wrote to President Wilson stating that fact. Although encouraged by his friends to make the attempt, he finally decided not to do so. Although he had many warm friends he cared little for society and always remained a bachelor. He was extremely fond of baseball and attended as many games as he possibly could and delivered the address of congratulation to the "Orioles," in October, 1894, the year they first won the championship.
The death of Mr. Bryan called for expressions of regret and eulogy from the bench and bar, and the State of Maryland officially recognized the blow which had fallen upon the commonwealth through the following resolutions, offered and adopted by both Houses of the Legislature.
Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, that in the death of Mr. Bryan the state has suffered the loss of a conscientious, able and devoted official who, as attorney-general of the State of Maryland, rendered to this commonwealth services of the highest value. An eminent and distinguished lawyer, a man of the highest integrity, of great energy and industry, he was ever interested in the public welfare and was always faithful to the best interests of the State.
Resolved further, that this resolution be found in the acts of the year nineteen hundred and fourteen.
As soon as Governor Goldsborough learned of the death of Mr. Bryan he ordered the national flag placed at half staff on the State House dome and to remain so displayed
until after the funeral.
WILLIAM SHEPARD BRYAN, Jr.
... achieved eminence at the Baltimore bar argues in itself a man of highest attainment, and no higher eulogy of William S. Bryan, Jr. is possible than to state that he was one of the brightest legal lights of that bar and at one time attorney general of the State of Maryland.
Brilliant, learned, he was a formidable, aggressive adversary, but honorable in his legal controversies, jolding sacred the highest ideals of the profession he honored. Keen and caustic in his wit, but lovable and warm-hearted, his nature a true gentleman under every condition.
He was extremely independent in thought and action, conservative rather than radical, but despised vacillation or indecision. His mind was a storehouse of facts, legal principles, adjudicated cases, historical and classical allusions, upon which he drew freely. He also possessed a fund of illustrations which were neither historical nor classical, but always conveyed the idea he was seeking to illuminate. He was so positive in his own nature that he had no patience with lawyer or judge who, to use one of his own favorite illustrations, concluded that "two and two made about four." Few men in the State were more successful than he in the practice of their professions, and no man in the State had so wide an acquaintance.
He knew men in every walk of life and his interest in the public welfare was keen and unremitting. He was adviser to the Democratic party of Maryland, and himself, a Democrat of the highest type, he fought for political honesty and integrity, hating the shams of pretense, judging men of his own party as well as the opposition, not by their own claims for preferment, but by their true merit to serve the people well in the office to which they aspired. He loved the excitement of a close political contest and was at his best when pleading with an audience of voters to support the principles and the candidates of his party. His wit and readiness at repartee charmed his friends and made him ever a most welcome guest, and he was the most loyal of friends.
William Shepard Bryan, Jr., son of Judge William S. Bryan, of the Court of Appeals, was born in Baltimore in 1859, died in the city of his birth, April 3, 1914. His father, a native son of North Carolina, and a warm southern sympathizer, married Elizabeth Edmondson Hayward, of Talbot County, Maryland, and located in Baltimore, where he became an eminent member of the bar, and judge of the Court of Appeals.
After leaving St. Michael's School, Reisterstown, the son attended Bethel Military Academy, at Farquier County, Virginia; later entered the law school of the University of Virginia, having previously read law in his father's office, whence he was graduated. He returned to Baltimore, and was admitted to the bar and began practice, and but a few years passed ere he had assumed an important position among the rising young lawyers of the city. During those first years he was at one time a partner with George R. Gaither.
In 1891 he formed a partnership with Edward N. Rich, an old school chum, and for about eleven years he practiced in partnership with A. deR. Sappington. He became one of the foremost lawyers of his day and could have become a judge, but he never desired to be, saying that he was not suited temperamentally for the bench.
Mr. Bryan was eminently fair in his conduct of law cases, this endearing him to his opponents in the face of the fact that he often lost his temper, saying or doing things that would ordinarily offend. At times he incurred criticism for seeming to be in contempt of court. One judge remarked upon one occasion that Mr. Bryan "was not in contempt of court because he did not mean to be." In his conversation out of court he generally worked around to a legal question, his mind trained in that channel so thoroughly that he could not help himself. But he was a wide reader of other than law books; biography, history and mythology interested him, and he was well informed on general literature. His power of concentration was wonderful. When he read any judge's opinion he studied beyond the point decided, to learn something of the character of the man who rendered the decision.
He was essentially a controversialist, a lover of debate on public questions, a critic of legislators, editors, and reformers. Conservative in his own views he was opposed to men of the Roosevelt and Bryan type, saying of the latter, "His name is too much like my own for me to like him."
It was not long after Mr. Bryan's admission to the bar before he was discovered by the Democratic party organization as of superior merit, and he became one of the party leaders and counselors. He was elected counsel to the board of election supervisors, the first city attorney, city counselor, first city solicitor and was attorney general of the State of Maryland during Governor Warfield's administration, that being the last public office he held. He did not seek office, neither did he decline it, believing that it was every man's duty to stick to his party through thick and thin, and he hated a "bolter." He was chief adviser to I. Freeman Rasin when he was at the head of the party in Baltimore, and was held in high esteem by Mr. Rasin's friends, from the fact that his opinions and advice were found to be sound. Mr. Rasin did not always follow Mr. Bryan's advice, but heeded it very often to his own advantage.
About a year prior to his death, Mr. Bryan decided to enter the race for United States senator, to succeed Senator Lee, and wrote to President Wilson stating that fact. Although encouraged by his friends to make the attempt, he finally decided not to do so. Although he had many warm friends he cared little for society and always remained a bachelor. He was extremely fond of baseball and attended as many games as he possibly could and delivered the address of congratulation to the "Orioles," in October, 1894, the year they first won the championship.
The death of Mr. Bryan called for expressions of regret and eulogy from the bench and bar, and the State of Maryland officially recognized the blow which had fallen upon the commonwealth through the following resolutions, offered and adopted by both Houses of the Legislature.
Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, that in the death of Mr. Bryan the state has suffered the loss of a conscientious, able and devoted official who, as attorney-general of the State of Maryland, rendered to this commonwealth services of the highest value. An eminent and distinguished lawyer, a man of the highest integrity, of great energy and industry, he was ever interested in the public welfare and was always faithful to the best interests of the State.
Resolved further, that this resolution be found in the acts of the year nineteen hundred and fourteen.
As soon as Governor Goldsborough learned of the death of Mr. Bryan he ordered the national flag placed at half staff on the State House dome and to remain so displayed
until after the funeral.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
