George Henry Williams (March 23, 1823-April 4, 1910) was an American judge and statesman. Born in New Lebanon, New York, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1844. He moved to Iowa and worked as a lawyer in Fort Madison, Iowa Territory. In 1847 elected Judge of the First Judicial District of Iowa. He was a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1852.
He was named Chief Justice of Oregon Territory in 1853 and served until 1857. He was also a member of the Oregon constitutional convention that was held before the establishment of Oregon as a U.S. state. He was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Republican from Oregon in 1865 and served until 1871. In 1871 he was a member of the commission to settle the Alabama claims from the Treaty of Washington.
On December 14, 1871, President Grant appointed him Attorney General of the United States. Williams was nominated to be Chief Justice of the United States in 1873, but was never confirmed. He resigned the Attorney General post in 1875.
He was the mayor of Portland, Oregon from 1902 to 1905.
He died in 1910 in Portland and is buried at River View Cemetery in that city.
Preceded by: Benjamin F. Harding U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Oregon 1865-1871 Succeeded by: James K. Kelly Preceded by: Amos T. Akerman United States Attorney General 1871-1875 Succeeded by: Edwards Pierrepont Preceded by: Henry S. Rowe Mayor of Portland, Oregon 1902-1905 Succeeded by: Harry Lane United States Attorneys General Randolph • Bradford • Lee • Lincoln • R Smith • Breckinridge • Rodney • Pinkney • Rush • Wirt • Berrien • Taney • Butler • Grundy • Gilpin • Crittenden • Legaré • Nelson • Mason • Clifford • Toucey • Johnson • Crittenden • Cushing • Black • Stanton • Bates • Speed • Stanberry • Evarts • Hoar • Akerman • Williams • Pierrepont • Taft • Devens • MacVeagh • Brewster • Garland • Miller • Olney • Harmon • McKenna • Griggs • Knox • Moody • Bonaparte • Wickersham • McReynolds • Gregory • Palmer • Daugherty •
