Henry Hitt Watkins

Who was Henry Hitt Watkins?

Henry Hitt Watkins was a United States federal judge.

Born in Laurens County, South Carolina, Watkins attended the University of Virginia and received an M.A. from Furman University in 1883. He read law to enter the bar in 1892, and was in private practice in Anderson, South Carolina from then until 1919. He was in the United States Army Captain, Company C, First South Carolina Regiment in 1898. He was a Quartermaster general of Staff of Governor Heyward from 1903 to 1907.

Watkins was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of South Carolina. Watkins was nominated by President Woodrow Wilson on July 14, 1919, to a seat vacated by Joseph T. Johnson. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 22, 1919, and received his commission the same day. He assumed senior status on December 31, 1936. Watkins served in that capacity until September 8, 1947, due to his death.