Born Warren Whitefield Bessey but raised and educated by a neighbor whose name he adopted, Warren H. Vinton was educated in public schools in Paris, Maine and at North Yarmouth Academy.
After reading law with J.E. Keith of Paris, he moved to Gray in 1849 where for a short time he both taught school and practiced law.
Vinton was a man of many and diverse interests. At different times in his life he was a lawyer, teacher, farmer, teamster, storeowner and politician. He even obtained a contract to carry the mail from West Pownal to Gray.
Elected to the Maine House in 1857, he served as a State Senator in 1853, 1854, 1861, 1862, 1877, 1878 and 1879, being President of the Senate in 1878.
Vinton was as eclectic in political life as he was in private. Beginning his political career as a Republican, he ran for Governor in 1882 as an Independent Republican. Following his defeat in that election he changed parties and became a Democrat.
Maintaining a law office in Portland in the latter years of his life, he died on March 13, 1907 at the age of eighty-six.