author
Wilson McCandless
1810–1882
A Pittsburgh lawyer, politician, and federal judge, he left his mark on Pennsylvania public life in the 1800s. Remembered today through the name of McCandless, Pennsylvania, he moved between law, state politics, and the federal bench.
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About the author
Born in Pittsburgh on June 19, 1810, he studied at the Western University of Pennsylvania, earned his degree in 1826, and entered the legal profession after reading law. He practiced in Pittsburgh for many years and also served in the Pennsylvania State Senate before moving to the federal judiciary.
In 1859, President James Buchanan nominated him to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, where he served until his death. Standard biographical sources describe him as a prominent figure in western Pennsylvania law and public service during the mid-19th century.
He died in Pittsburgh on June 30, 1882. His name remained locally significant enough that the community now known as McCandless, Pennsylvania, was named in his honor.