Nelson McVicar

Who was Nelson McVicar?

Nelson McVicar was a United States federal judge.

Born in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, McVicar attended the University of Michigan Law School and read law to enter the bar in 1896. He was in private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1896 to 1925. He was a Borough solicitor, Tarentum Borough, Pennsylvania from 1896 to 1925. He was a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly from 1914 to 1924. He was a judge on the Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania from 1925 to 1928.

McVicar was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. McVicar received a recess appointment from President Calvin Coolidge on September 14, 1928, to a seat vacated by W.H. Seward Thomson. Formally nominated on December 6, 1928. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 17, 1928, and received his commission the same day. He served as chief judge from 1949-1951. He assumed senior status on February 1, 1951. McVicar served in that capacity until December 20, 1960, due to his death.

He died in Tarentum, Pennsylvania.