William Drayton Sr.

Born March 21, 1732, near the Ashley River in the Province of South Carolina, British America,[1] Drayton graduated from the Middle Temple in London, England in 1754 and read law in 1756.[1] He was a Justice of the Peace in Berkeley County, Province of South Carolina from 1756 to 1763.[1] He was chief justice of the British American Province of East Florida from 1765 to 1778.[1] He resigned that post due to conflicts with Governor Patrick Tonyn of the Province of East Florida.[2] He was a Judge of the South Carolina Admiralty Court in 1789.[1] He was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina in 1789.[1]

Drayton bought properties in Florida, including what is called Drayton Island, but was an indifferent planter.[2]

Drayton received a recess appointment from President George Washington on November 18, 1789, to the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, to a new seat authorized by 1 Stat. 73.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Washington on February 8, 1790.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 1790, and received his commission the same day.[1] His service terminated on May 18, 1790, due to his death in South Carolina.[1] Drayton was the first United States federal judge to die in office.

Drayton was the father of William Drayton, a United States representative from South Carolina.

• William Drayton at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.