Born in Milford, Delaware, Latchum received an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Princeton University in 1940, and was a captain in the United States Army following World War II from 1940 to 1946.
He was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Reserve during World War II, from 1946 to 1961.
He was an Assistant United States Attorney of the District of Delaware from 1951 to 1953.
[1] Latchum was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 17, 1968, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Delaware vacated by Judge Caleb Rodney Layton III.
[1] At the time of his death, Latchum had been married to Elizabeth Murray McArthur for 60 years.