William S. Ervin (September 4, 1886 – April 2, 1951) was an American attorney and politician from Minnesota. A member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, he is most notable for his service as Attorney General of Minnesota from 1936 to 1939.
William Sterling Ervin [1] was born in Birmingham, Iowa [2] on September 4, 1886. [3] He was the son of Robert Milton Ervin and Malzena (Cole) Ervin, [4] and his family moved to Minnesota when he was six months old. [3] Ervin graduated from high school in Mankato, Minnesota. [3] He then attended the University of Minnesota Law School, from which he graduated with an LL.B. degree in 1910. [3] [5]
Ervin attained admission to the bar in 1910 and practiced in Sandstone, Minnesota. [2] A member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, he served as county attorney of Pine County from 1914 to 1918. [2] In 1919, he moved to Minneapolis. [2] From 1933 to 1936, Ervin served as Assistant Attorney General of Minnesota. [2] In 1936, he was appointed Attorney General when Harry H. Peterson resigned to accept appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court, and he served until 1939. [3] [6] He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the position in 1938. [7]
After leaving the attorney general's office, Ervin resumed the practice of law. [2] During World War II, he was a United States Commissioner authorized to perform certain judicial functions of Minnesota's federal district court. [8] From 1943 to 1947 he served as assistant commissioner of the land office for Hennepin County, and he served as commissioner from 1947 to 1949. [2]
After leaving the land commissioner's office, Ervin continued to practice law and reside in Minneapolis. [2] He died in Minneapolis on April 2, 1951, after suffering a heart attack while walking on a street near his home. [2] He was buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. [9]
In 1914, Ervin married Elsie L. Orth. [10] He was survived by his wife, daughter Betty, and son Robert. [9]
William S. Ervin (September 4, 1886 – April 2, 1951) was an American attorney and politician from Minnesota. A member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, he is most notable for his service as Attorney General of Minnesota from 1936 to 1939.
William Sterling Ervin [1] was born in Birmingham, Iowa [2] on September 4, 1886. [3] He was the son of Robert Milton Ervin and Malzena (Cole) Ervin, [4] and his family moved to Minnesota when he was six months old. [3] Ervin graduated from high school in Mankato, Minnesota. [3] He then attended the University of Minnesota Law School, from which he graduated with an LL.B. degree in 1910. [3] [5]
Ervin attained admission to the bar in 1910 and practiced in Sandstone, Minnesota. [2] A member of the Minnesota Farmer–Labor Party, he served as county attorney of Pine County from 1914 to 1918. [2] In 1919, he moved to Minneapolis. [2] From 1933 to 1936, Ervin served as Assistant Attorney General of Minnesota. [2] In 1936, he was appointed Attorney General when Harry H. Peterson resigned to accept appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court, and he served until 1939. [3] [6] He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the position in 1938. [7]
After leaving the attorney general's office, Ervin resumed the practice of law. [2] During World War II, he was a United States Commissioner authorized to perform certain judicial functions of Minnesota's federal district court. [8] From 1943 to 1947 he served as assistant commissioner of the land office for Hennepin County, and he served as commissioner from 1947 to 1949. [2]
After leaving the land commissioner's office, Ervin continued to practice law and reside in Minneapolis. [2] He died in Minneapolis on April 2, 1951, after suffering a heart attack while walking on a street near his home. [2] He was buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis. [9]
In 1914, Ervin married Elsie L. Orth. [10] He was survived by his wife, daughter Betty, and son Robert. [9]