William McKennan

Who was William McKennan?

William McKennan was a United States federal judge.

Born in Washington, Pennsylvania, McKennan attended Yale College and graduated from Washington College in Washington, Pennsylvania 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 S. 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.