Frederick Walker Pitkin graduated cum laude from Wesleyan University and earned a law degree from Albany Law School. He established a law firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before relocating to Colorado and investing in the mining industry. Pitkin transitioned to public service, winning the governorship of Colorado and managing significant crises, including the Milk Creek Battle and a mining strike at Leadville. After retiring from public office, he resumed his law practice and mining business in Pueblo, Colorado.

Frederick Walker Pitkin's political identity is marked by a calculated approach to regional economic interests, particularly in the mining sector. His governance style reveals a readiness to employ forceful measures, as seen in the suppression of the Ute Indian uprising and the declaration of martial law during the Leadville mining strike. This juxtaposition of economic advocacy with authoritarian governance raises intriguing questions about his underlying justifications and the balance he strikes between industry support and public order.