Key Pittman was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 19th September, 1872. He studied law at Southwestern University and was admitted to the bar in 1892. Pittman worked as a lawyer in Seattle before joining the gold rush to Klondike, Alaska, in 1897. After working as a miner for three years he returned to work as a lawyer in 1901.

A member of the Democratic Party Pittman was elected to the Senate in 1913. He served on the Committee of Territories, Committee on Industrial Expositions and Committee on Foreign Relations. Key Pittman died in Reno, Nevada, on 10th November, 1940.