WILLIAM CRANCH

(1769 – 1855)

Eminent American jurist, born Weymouth, MA, he arrived in Washington in 1795. Cousin of President John Quincy Adams, he graduated from Harvard and studied law. He married a sister of James Greenleaf and served as his attorney. Cranch was appointed by President John Adams, his uncle, an associate justice of the Circuit Court of the D.C. (1801-05). He was a reporter to the Supreme Court of the U.S. (1801-1815) and elevated to chief justice of the Circuit Court (1805-55). He was a member of the first school board and was trustee of the public schools (1805-15).

Image Courtesy of: Library of Congress

Cranch School
12th and G Street S.E.

Built in 1872
Architect: Adolph Cluss
Photograph by Alexander Gardiner, 1872

Image Courtesy of: Sumner School Museum

Cranch School, ca. 1960

By the 1960’s the school had been reduced to a modest 2-story building. The building was demolished (date unknown) and today the site is occupied by an architecturally insignificant Salvation Army building.

Image Courtesy of: Sumner School Museum

Congressional Cemetery
Range 45 Site 208