Born in a jail in Louisa, Lawrence County, Kentucky. His father was the jailer. Graduate of Kentucky Normal College in 1908. Received LL.B. from Centre College in 1911. Admitted to the bar in Kentucky and practiced law in Louisa.

Served in the army during World War I. Married Roberta Dixon January 24, 1923. They had two sons.

Elected to the House of Representatives and served January 12, 1924, to March 3, 1929, and from March 4, 1931, to May 12, 1938. Appointed by President Franklin Roosevelt as Associate Justice for the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Appointed by the President as Director of the Office of Economic Stabilization serving May 27, 1943, to March 5, 1945. Appointed by the President as Director of the Office of War Mobilization April 2, 1945.

Appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President Truman serving July 23, 1945, to June 23, 1946. His signature appears on Silver Certificates, series of 1934-B and 1935-B and Federal Reserve Notes, series of 1934-B. On June 24, 1946, he took office as Chief Justice of the United States. He died in office in Washington, D.C.

Vinson appears on a mint medal (USM 215) as part of the series of medals for Secretaries of the Treasury. Dies were by John Sinnock.

bio: BDC; BDEB; DAB; Failor; NCAB 41; WAB; WWWA-3; Paper Money Jan/Feb 93