Name Wilson McCandless | Education Western University | |
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Died June 30, 1882, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | ||
Wilson McCandless (June 19, 1810 – June 30, 1882) was a United States federal judge.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, McCandless received a BA from the Western University of Pennsylvania (now known as the University of Pittsburgh) in 1826 and read law to enter the Bar in 1831. He was in private practice in Pittsburgh from 1831 to 1859, serving in the Pennsylvania State Senate.
On February 3, 1859, McCandless was nominated by President James Buchanan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania vacated by Thomas Irwin. McCandless was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 8, 1859, and received his commission the same day. McCandless served in that capacity until his retirement on July 24, 1876. He then returned to private practice in Pittsburgh from 1876 until he died there, in 1882.
He is the namesake of McCandless, Pennsylvania.