William McKennan
Encyclopedia
William McKennan was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Washington, Pennsylvania
, McKennan attended Yale College
and graduated from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania
(now Washington & Jefferson College
) in 1833, before reading law
to enter the bar in 1837. He was in private practice in Washington, Pennsylvania
from 1837 to 1852. He was a deputy state attorney general of Pennsylvania from 1837 to 1839. He was a Burgess of Washington, Pennsylvania
in 1847.
On December 8, 1869, McKennan was nominated by President Ulysses Grant to a new seat on the United States circuit court
for the Third Circuit created by 16 Stat. 44. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on December 22, 1869, and received his commission the same day. McKennan served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench on January 3, 1891.
He died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
, McKennan attended Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
and graduated from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
(now Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
) in 1833, before reading law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
to enter the bar in 1837. He was in private practice in Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
from 1837 to 1852. He was a deputy state attorney general of Pennsylvania from 1837 to 1839. He was a Burgess of Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
in 1847.
On December 8, 1869, McKennan was nominated by President Ulysses Grant to a new seat on the United States circuit court
United States circuit court
The United States circuit courts were the original intermediate level courts of the United States federal court system. They were established by the Judiciary Act of 1789. They had trial court jurisdiction over civil suits of diversity jurisdiction and major federal crimes. They also had appellate...
for the Third Circuit created by 16 Stat. 44. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on December 22, 1869, and received his commission the same day. McKennan served in that capacity until his retirement from the bench on January 3, 1891.
He died in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
.