William Paine Sheffield Sr.
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Portrait of Sheffield taken by Mathew Brady
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| United States Senator from Rhode Island | |
| In office November 19, 1884 – January 20, 1885 | |
| Appointed by | Augustus O. Bourn |
| Preceded by | Henry B. Anthony |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Chace |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island's 1st district | |
| In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | |
| Preceded by | Christopher Robinson |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Jenckes |
| Member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives | |
| In office 1842–1845 1849–1853 1857–1861 1875–1884 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1820-08-30)August 30, 1820 New Shoreham, Rhode Island |
| Died | June 2, 1907(1907-06-02) (aged 86) Newport, Rhode Island |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Harvard Law School |
| Profession | Attorney |
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William Paine Sheffield (August 30, 1820 – June 2, 1907) was a United States representative and Senator from Rhode Island.
Born in New Shoreham (onBlock Island), he completed preparatory studies, attended Kingston Academy, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1843. He was admitted to the bar in 1844 and commenced practice in Newport. In 1841 and 1842 he was a delegate to the State constitutional conventions and was a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives from 1842 to 1845, from 1849 to 1853, and from 1857 to 1861. He moved to Tiverton and returned to Newport.
Sheffield was elected as a Union candidate to the Thirty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863) and then resumed the practice of law; he was appointed in 1871 one of the commissioners to revise the State laws, and was a member of the State house of representatives from 1875 to 1884. He was appointed as a Republican to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry B. Anthony and served from November 19, 1884, to January 20, 1885, after which he resumed the practice of his profession.
In 1892 Sheffield was elected as an honorary member of the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati.
Sheffield died in Newport in 1907; interment was in the Island Cemetery.
Sheffield was the father of William Paine Sheffield Jr., also a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Rhode Island's 1st district March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 |
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| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 2) from Rhode Island 1884–1885 Served alongside: Nelson W. Aldrich |
Succeeded by |
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