Walter Russell Stiness (March 13, 1854 – March 17, 1924) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island. Born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, Stiness attended the public schools and was a student at

Brown University Brown University is a private research university in Providence, Rhode Island. Brown is the seventh-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1764 as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providenc ...

, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1873 and 1874. He served in the city council in 1875. He was graduated from

Boston University School of Law Boston University School of Law (Boston Law or BU Law) is the law school of Boston University, a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. It is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States and considered an eli ...

in 1877. He was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in Providence, Rhode Island. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1878-1881. He served as clerk of the justice court of Providence 1879-1885. He served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Gov. Augustus O. Bourn 1883-1885. State railroad commissioner 1888-1891. He served as assistant judge advocate general of Rhode Island 1888-1898. He served as judge advocate general 1898-1913. He served as member of the State senate 1904-1909. He served as chairman of the commission to revise the statutes of Rhode Island in 1909. United States attorney for the district of Rhode Island 1911-1914. Stiness was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1923). He was not a candidate for renomination in 1922. He lived in retirement in Warwick, Rhode Island, until his death there March 17, 1924. He was interred in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, Rhode Island.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stiness, Walter Russell 1854 births 1924 deaths Boston University School of Law alumni Politicians from Warwick, Rhode Island People from Smithfield, Rhode Island Republican Party members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Republican Party Rhode Island state senators Rhode Island lawyers Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Rhode Island Providence City Council members United States Attorneys for the District of Rhode Island 19th-century American lawyers