William Bradford served as U.S. attorney general from 1794 to 1795 under President George Washington. Bradford, a Revolutionary War hero and a distinguished attorney and judge, was the second person to hold the post of attorney general. His tenure was cut short by his untimely death.

Bradford was born on September 14, 1755, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Princeton University with a bachelor of arts degree in 1772 and a master of arts degree in 1775. With the outbreak of the American Revolution, Bradford volunteered as a private in 1776 and moved steadily up the ranks during the course of the war. He attained the ranks of lieutenant colonel, deputy quartermaster general, deputy muster-master general and colonel in the Continental Army between 1776 and 1779. Bradford fought in numerous battles, including Valley Forge. During the war Bradford came to the attention of General George Washington.

After leaving the army in 1779, Bradford returned to Philadelphia, where...