William Mershon Lanning

William Mershon Lanning (January 1, 1849 – February 16, 1912) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Republican Party politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1903 to 1904. He later served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and as a United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States Circuit Courts for the Third Circuit. Education and career Born in Ewingville, Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, Lanning graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 1866. He was employed as a teacher in the public schools of Mercer County and in the Trenton Academy from 1866 to 1880. He read law, was admitted to the bar in 1880 and commenced practice in Trenton, New Jersey. Lanning was elected city solicitor for Trenton in 1884. He was appointed judge of the city district court in 1887 and served until 1891, when legislated out of office. He served as member of a commission to frame township laws and of the constitutional commission of 1894. He served as President of the Mechanics' National Bank of Trenton in 1899. Congressional service