Wade Rutledge Keyes was born to George Keyes (November 18, 1792-July 13, 1833) and Ellen Rutledge (March 1, 1799-October 22, 1831) in Mooresville, Limestone County, Alabama on October 10, 1821. He was educated at LaGrange College, near Muscle Shoals, Colbert County, Alabama, and University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia, before entering the study of law under Judge Daniel Coleman (August 2, 1801-November 4, 1857) in Athens, Limestone County, Alabama.

     He continued his studies in Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky, and in 1844, made his home in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. He remained there until 1851, published two volumes of legal works and then moved to Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, where he soon established himself as one of the most prominent lawyers of that state. In 1853, he was elected by the state legislature to the position of Chancellor of Alabama's Southern District Equity Courts. On May 16, 1858, he married Alice Wharton Whitfield. He also founded the Montgomery Law School, which in 1860 became the Law Department of University of Alabama. Unfortunately for him, Keyes missed the opportunity to fully develop the program as he and his students soon became involved in the Confederate war effort.

     His chief duty to the Confederacy was as Assistant Attorney General from April 29, 1861 to war's close. He also served as Attorney General (Ad Interim) (September 17, 1861-November 21, 1861; October 1, 1863-January 2, 1864), between the terms of Judah Philip Benjamin (August 6, 1811-May 6, 1884) and Thomas Bragg, Jr. (November 9, 1810-January 21, 1872), and the terms of Thomas Hill Watts (January 3, 1819-September 16, 1892) and George Davis (March 1, 1820-February 23, 1896).

     Following the war, he re-established his law practice in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama, before moving to Florence, Lauderdale County, Alabama in 1867. Keyes died on March 2, 1879.

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