William DeWitt Mitchell (September 9, 1874August 24, 1955) was an American attorney who had served as both Solicitor General of the United States under President Calvin Coolidge and United States Attorney General under President Herbert Hoover.
Early life and education
Mitchell was born in Winona, Minnesota, to William B. Mitchell, a jurist who served as an associate justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, and Frances Merritt. He attended public schools in Winona before entering the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. In 1891, he enrolled in the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale University to study electrical engineering. Despite excelling in mathematics and science, Mitchell switched his focus to law after two years and transferred to the University of Minnesota. To make up for lost time, he attended law classes at night while completing his undergraduate degree.
Mitchell graduated from the University of Minnesota with an A.B. degree in 1895 and subsequently enrolled at the University of Minnesota Law School, where he earned his LL.B. degree in 1896. Shortly after graduating from law school, he was admitted to the Minnesota State Bar Association and began practicing law in Saint Paul. He married Gertrude Bancroft on June 27, 1901, and the couple had two sons: William and Bancroft Mitchell.
Career
thumb|left|[[Time (magazine)|Time magazine cover of William D. Mitchell, (January 27, 1930).]]
He formed the law firm of How, Taylor & Mitchell, which became prominent in the Midwest. This prestige allowed Mitchell access to both the regional council of the U.S. Railroad Administration in 1919, and then he served as chairman of the Citizens Charter Committee of St. Paul in 1922.
Military service
He served as a line officer with the 15th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment and later an acting judge advocate for the United States Second Army Corps during the Spanish–American War. From 1899 to 1901 he was an engineer officer for the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division and later adjutant for the 4th Infantry Regiment of the Minnesota Army National Guard.