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Major William J. Twining was a distinguished figure in the United States Army Engineer Corps and a Commissioner of the District of Columbia. Born in Indiana, Twining embarked on his illustrious military career by enrolling as a Cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated fourth in his class in 1863.

Upon graduation, Twining was commissioned as a First Lieutenant of Engineers. His service throughout the American Civil War was notable and multifaceted, as he served as the Assistant Engineer of the Department of the Cumberland and later as the Chief Engineer of the Department of the Ohio, the Twenty-third Army Corps, and of North Carolina. His wartime experiences included operations against General Hood's army in Tennessee and the battles at Franklin and Nashville, as well as operations in North Carolina in February, March, and April 1865.

For his gallant and meritorious services, Twining was brevetted Major and Lieutenant-Colonel of Volunteers, followed by promotions to Captain and Major in the regular Army. After the war, he served as an Assistant Professor of Engineering at West Point from August 31, 1865, to April 23, 1867, and he was appointed Captain of Engineers on December 28, 1865.

In his post-war career, Twining held various important roles, including Chief Engineer of the Department of Dakota and aide-de-camp to General Terry. He was also the Engineer of the Sixth Lighthouse District from March 1870 to June 1871, and in command of the engineer company at Willett's Point, New York, from July 1871 to June 1872. Twining's contributions extended to border delineation as he served as a Commissioner for the survey of the United States boundary line along the forty-ninth parallel from June 1872 to July 1876. Subsequently, for a year, he oversaw the survey of the Union and Central Pacific Railways.

Twining was appointed assistant to the Chief of Engineers at Washington from June 1877 to June 1878 and was promoted to Major on October 16, 1877. His final position was as Commissioner of the District of Columbia, a role he assumed on June 27, 1878, and held until his death in May 1882. Major William J. Twining died in Washington, D.C., from pneumonia. His life of service was marked by technical proficiency, leadership, and dedication to the nation.