William Calvin Chesnut

Who was William Calvin Chesnut?

William Calvin Chesnut was a United States federal judge.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Chesnut received an A.B. from Johns Hopkins University in 1892 and an LL.B. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1894. He was an assistant state's attorney of Baltimore from 1896 to 1899. He was in private practice in Baltimore from 1899 to 1931. He was a lecturer for the University of Maryland School of Law from 1911 to 1931.

On May 9, 1931, Chesnut received a recess appointment from President Herbert Hoover to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Maryland vacated by Morris A. Soper. Formally nominated on December 15, 1931, Chesnut was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 12, 1932, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status on July 31, 1953, serving in that capacity until his death, in 1962, in Baltimore.