Graduated in 1888 from Yale with a BA, he continued at Yale to study law and was admitted to the bar in 1890. In 1894 he entered into an Auburn law firm where worked until 1945 when he opened his own firm. He was also a banker, in 1891 he joined his father's bank and in 1920 he was made a senior partner and president. He was also a trustee of the Auburn Savings Bank 1901-1951 and became president in 1938. He was a trustee of the Auburn City Hospital and of the Seymour Library Association. He arranged that upon his death, the Seward family home, which had been in the family for 135 years would be opened to the public. William Henry IV was born on May 4, 1895.