William Preston Bynum was born on August 1, 1861, in McDowell County, North Carolina. Bynum was a prominent lawyer perhaps best remembered for arguing two pivotal cases before the U. S. Supreme Court that helped overturn federal anti-child labor legislation. He was active in the American Bar Association, serving as chairman of the general council for four years. He died on January 7, 1926, in Greensboro (Guilford County).