A native of San Francisco, White graduated from Santa Clara College in 1871, studied law, and became an attorney in Los Angeles.

He became active in politics, and served as Los Angeles County District Attorney and a member of the California Senate.

[1][2] White's mother was orphaned early in life and raised by relatives in Florida, one of whom was Stephen Mallory.

[1] At age 16, he began attendance at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School in San Francisco, where he remained for a year and a half.

[5] As a defense attorney, White attained a high reputation, but he preferred work on civil cases to criminal trials.

[6] He was also active in civic organizations, including the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Native Sons of the Golden West.

[15] A statue memorializing White was paid for by friends and admirers and installed outside the Los Angeles County Courthouse in 1908.

[16] In 1989, the statue was moved to the entrance off Cabrillo Beach off Stephen M. White Drive in San Pedro.

[16] Since 2019, individuals who object to White's support of the Chinese Exclusion Act and other racist actions have advocated for the name of the school to be changed.