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William S. Clawson was born in Woodstown, Salem Co., N. J., in the year 1812. He received his education at Princeton College and upon graduating from that institution entered the office of Franklin L. MacCulloch as a student of law. He was admitted as an attorney in 1841, and as a counselor in 1844. Settling in Woodstown, his native place he began the practice of law. He, however, during the early part of his professional career, devoted his time and attention in a great measure to agricultural pursuits, and it was not till in 1847, when he was appointed prosecutor of the pleas, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Richard P. Thompson to the attorney-generalship of the State, that he became at all prominent as a lawyer. During his term of office he skillfully and ably conducted the criminal business of the county. In 1859 he was appointed by Governor Olden as associate justice of the Supreme Court of the State, and assigned to the First Judicial District. In the estimation of the lawyers of that day he was considered to have been honest, well meaning, upright judge, and a lawyer of fair legal attainments. To Mr. Clawson belongs the honor and distinction of having been the only representative Salem County has ever had upon the bench of the Supreme Court of this State. Mr. Clawson did not live to reap the full honors of his office, death overtaking him before the end of his second year on the bench. In 1857 he was present in Washington during the inauguration of President Buchanan, and was a guest at the National Hotel at the time when the well-remembered attempt was unsuccessfully made to poison the President and his cabinet. He, together with many others, was affected by the poison, which slowly undermined his constitution and ultimately caused his death. He died in Woodstown in June1861.
