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American attorney and politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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