David McDonald (judge)

David McDonald
Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana
In office December 13, 1864 – August 25, 1869
Appointed by	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	Albert Smith White
Succeeded by	Walter Q. Gresham
Personal details
Born	David McDonald (1803-05-08)May 8, 1803 Millersburg, Kentucky
Died	August 25, 1869(1869-08-25) (aged 66) Indianapolis, Indiana
Education	read law

David McDonald (May 8, 1803 – August 25, 1869) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Indiana.

Education and career

Born in Millersburg, Kentucky, McDonald read law to enter the bar in 1830, and entered private practice in Washington, Indiana. He was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1833 to 1834, and a prosecuting attorney of the 7th Judicial Circuit of Indiana from 1834 to 1837, thereafter returning to private practice until 1839. He was a Judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit of Indiana from 1839 to 1852, also serving as a Professor of law at Indiana University Bloomington from 1842 to 1852. He was again in private practice, this time in Indianapolis, Indiana from 1853 to 1864.

Federal judicial service

On December 12, 1864, McDonald was nominated by President Abraham Lincoln to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Indiana vacated by Judge Albert Smith White. McDonald was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 13, 1864, and received his commission the same day, serving thereafter until his death on August 25, 1869, in Indianapolis.

Sources

• David McDonald at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.