William D. Mitchell

William DeWitt Mitchell (September 9, 1874 – August 24, 1955) was an American attorney who had served as both Solicitor General of the United States under President Calvin Coolidge and United States Attorney General under President Herbert Hoover.

William D. Mitchell
54th United States Attorney General
In office March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933
President	Herbert Hoover
Preceded by	John G. Sargent
Succeeded by	Homer Cummings
18th United States Solicitor General
In office June 4, 1925 – March 4, 1929
President	Calvin Coolidge
Preceded by	James M. Beck
Succeeded by	Charles Evans Hughes Jr.
Personal details
Born	William DeWitt Mitchell (1874-09-09)September 9, 1874 Winona, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	August 24, 1955(1955-08-24) (aged 80) Syosset, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Gertrude Bancroft
Children	2
Education	Yale University University of Minnesota (BA, LLB)
Military service
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War World War I

Early life and education

Mitchell was born in Winona, Minnesota to William B. Mitchell, a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, and the former Frances Merritt. Mitchell received his early schooling in Winona and the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey before enrolling in at Yale University in 1891. Though he originally entered Yale with an interest in electrical engineering, after two years his focus shifted to law and he subsequently transferred to the University of Minnesota. To make up for lost time, Mitchell simultaneously took law courses at night while finishing his undergraduate degree.

Mitchell graduated from the University of Minnesota with an A.B. degree in 1895, and subsequently enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School, where he received his LL.B. degree in 1896. Shortly after graduating from law school, Mitchell was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar Association and practiced law in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He married the former Gertrude Bancroft on June 27, 1901. They had two sons which were William and Bancroft Mitchell.

Career

Time magazine cover of William D. Mitchell, (January 27, 1930).

He formed the law firm of How, Taylor & Mitchell, which became prominent in the Midwest. This prestige allowed Mitchell access to both the regional council of the U.S. Railroad Administration in 1919, and then he served as chairman of the Citizens Charter Committee of St. Paul in 1922.

Military service

He served as a line officer with the 15th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later an acting judge advocate for the United States Second Army Corps during the Spanish–American War. From 1899 to 1901 he was an engineer officer for the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division and later adjutant for the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota Army National Guard. During the First World War he served with the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota Army National Guard and later served at Camp Taylor, Kentucky until the war was over. He reached the rank of Colonel.

Government service

His combined military service placed him in position to be appointed to the position of Solicitor General of the United States. Having served well in his position, President Hoover appointed him Attorney General of the United States from March 4, 1929, and he held that office until March 4, 1933, one of his principal acts having been to order the Bonus Army dispersed and their camp destroyed.

Later career

Mitchell then settled in New York City where he practiced law. He was named chairman of the Committee on Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and chief counsel of the joint congressional committee investigating the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Mitchell died there in Syosset, New York on August 24, 1955, at the age of 80.

External links

• Media related to William D. Mitchell at Wikimedia Commons
• Profile from the Department of Justice
• William D. Mitchell at Find a Grave