William LeBaron Putnam (May 26, 1835 – February 5, 1918) was a

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

and politician in Maine. Putnam served as mayor of Portland, Maine from 1869–70 and later served as a United States circuit judge of the

United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (in case citations, 1st Cir.) is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts: * District of Maine * District of Massachusetts * ...

and of the United States Circuit Courts for the First Circuit.

Education and career

Born in Bath, Maine, Putnam received an

Artium Baccalaureus Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...

degree from

Bowdoin College Bowdoin College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. When Bowdoin was chartered in 1794, Maine was still a part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The college offers 34 majors and 36 minors, as well as several joint eng ...

in 1855, where he was a member of the

Peucinian Society Bowdoin College ( ) is a private liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. When Bowdoin was chartered in 1794, Maine was still a part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The college offers 34 majors and 36 minors, as well as several joint engi ...

. He

read law Reading law was the method used in common law countries, particularly the United States, for people to prepare for and enter the legal profession before the advent of law schools. It consisted of an extended internship or apprenticeship under the ...

in 1858 to be admitted to the Maine Bar. He worked as a lawyer in private practice in

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

, Maine from 1858 to 1891. Putnam served as a city council member in Portland from 1860 to 1861, a member of the

board of aldermen An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members them ...

in 1862, and as Mayor of Portland from 1869 to 1870. He was a commissioner to negotiate American fishing rights in Canada from 1887 to 1888.

Federal judicial service

Putnam was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison on December 16, 1891, to the

and the United States Circuit Courts for the First Circuit, to a new joint seat authorized by 26 Stat. 826. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 17, 1892, and received his commission the same day. On December 31, 1911, the Circuit Courts were abolished and he thereafter served only on the Court of Appeals. His service terminated on September 17, 1917, due to his retirement.

Death

Putnam died on February 5, 1918, in Portland.

References

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Putnam, William LeBaron Judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit 1835 births 1918 deaths Maine lawyers Bowdoin College alumni Mayors of Portland, Maine People from Bath, Maine United States federal judges appointed by Benjamin Harrison 19th-century American judges Portland, Maine City Council members 19th-century American politicians United States federal judges admitted to the practice of law by reading law