William Paterson, Irish-American judge and politician, 2nd Governor of New Jersey (born 1745)

William Paterson was an American statesman, lawyer, jurist, and signer of the United States Constitution. He was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, the second governor of New Jersey, and a Founding Father of the United States.

The governor of New Jersey is the head of government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of governor is an elected position with a four-year term. There is a two consecutive term limit, with no limitation on non-consecutive terms. The official residence of the governor is Drumthwacket, a mansion located in Princeton, New Jersey. The governor's office is located inside the New Jersey State House in Trenton, making New Jersey unique in having the executive's office located in the same building as the legislature. New Jersey is also notable as one of the few states in which the governor's official residence is not located in the state capital.