Willis Van Devanter

associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

Quick Facts
Born:
April 17, 1859, Marion, Ind., U.S.
Died:
Feb. 8, 1941, Washington, D.C. (aged 81)

Willis Van Devanter (born April 17, 1859, Marion, Ind., U.S.—died Feb. 8, 1941, Washington, D.C.) was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1910–37). After graduating from Cincinnati Law School in 1881, he initially worked for his father’s law firm; but in 1884, he moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., to become a railroad attorney. There he became involved in territorial politics, serving on a commission to codify the Wyoming statutes in 1886, as city attorney for Cheyenne, and in the territorial legislature. After two years as chief justice of the territorial Supreme Court, he returned to private practice when ...(100 of 185 words)