Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Reese, William Brown

REESE, William Brown, jurist, b. in Jefferson county, Tenn., 29 Nov., 1793; d. near Knoxville, Tenn., 7 July, 1860. He was graduated at Greenville college with the first honors, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1817. In 1831 he became chancellor of the state, and in 1835 he was elected to the bench of the supreme court in Tennessee. He resigned in 1847. In 1850 he was chosen president of the University of East Tennessee, which place he filled until failing health compelled him to resign. He was elected president of the East Tennessee historical society in 1830, and held the office until his death. In 1845 the University of East Tennessee conferred upon him the degree of LL. D. Judge Reese's opinion in a case involving a construction of the “rule in Shelly's case” elicited high commendation from Chancellor Kent. He was a man of literary tastes and an able scholar.