Oliver Perry Shiras

Who was Oliver Perry Shiras?

Oliver Perry Shiras was the first United States federal judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

Shiras was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received an A.B. and A.M. from Ohio University, and an LL.B. from Yale Law School in 1856. Relocating to Iowa in 1856, he went into private practice in Dubuque, Iowa. During the Civil War, he was in the United States Army, where he served as a First Lieutenant in the JAG Corps from 1862 to 1863. He also served as a Dubuque city councilman.

In 1882, Shiras became a federal district court judge. He was nominated by President Chester A. Arthur on August 3, 1882, to a new seat created by 22 Stat. 172, which divided the District of Iowa into a Northern District and Southern District. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 4, 1882, and received his commission the same day.

He resigned his office on November 1, 1903, returning to private practice in Dubuque from 1903 to 1916.

He died in Sea Breeze, Florida, on January 7, 1916.