Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-02-18
DEATH OF REVERDY JOHNSON.

IL on. 'heVcruy touusou, WAioA ooSoA
red in the court yard Of the Cover
nor's Mansion, at Annapolis, on the
evening Of Thursday, 10th instant,
has created profound sensation and
feeling of regret not only in this
State, but throughout the United
States and Europe.
1t is not our purpose to pronounce
a eulogy upon the deceased as law
yer, statesman, a diplomatist and
patriot-that has already been done
by far ADLER hands-but to give the
salient points and prominent events
Of his long and distinguished career.
Reverdy johnson was born in the
City of Annapolis, May q, 1896. His
family on his fathers side were Of
English descent, and on that Of his
mother French, and his ancestors were
among the earliest settlers in Mary
land, several of them holding promi-
nent positions under the colonial 60
vernment. His father, John Johnson,
was an eminent lawyer, and was sue
cessively Attorney General, a Judge
of the Court Of Appeals, and Chan
cellor of the State. His mother was
a daughter Of Reverdv Ghiselin, who
was long known as Commissioner Of
the Land Office at Annapolis.
Mr.. johnson was educated at ST.
Johns College, Annapolis, leaving
the institution at sixteen years Of age.
He then read law under his father,
and was for time a student in the
Office Of the late Judge Stevens. He
was admitted to the bar and began to
practice law at Upper Marlborough,
Prince Georges county, in 1915, vixen
only in his twentieth year. He was
soon appointed by the Attorney Con.
eral Of tho State his deputy for the
judicial district, remaining in that
position till November, 1917. He
then removed to Baltimore and en-
tered upon his brilliant career as a
lawyer. He was the professional and
intimate companion of Luther Martin,
TL.odo.i.h Dl~-l, noL..c dVodlve
Harper, VIM. Pinkney, Thomas Keli,
Roger Brooke fancy, John Y. l.. Nc
Mahon, VIM. Writ, John Buchanan
and other men famous at the bar Of
Maryland.
In 1917 he was appointed Chief
Commissioner Of Insolvert Debtors.
In 1921 he was elected to the Mary-
land State Senate, and in 1926 he
was reelected for another term, the
late Philip Z. Thomas, the first Presi-
dent Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road, as the elector for the City of
Baltimore, casting his vote for him
But before completing his term, he re-
signed his position as State Senator
and devoted himself exclusively to
the practice Of law until 1915, when
lie was elected to the United Senate
by the Wings, where he was the asso-
ciate Of Clay and Webster, John NJ
Clayton and other leading members
Of that body.
n'lS49 he resigned his seat in the
Senate to accept the position Of Attor-
ney General rendered him by Presi
dent Taylor. On tie death of Presi-
dent Taylor and the accession of Mr..
Fillmore, Mr.. johnson retired and re-
sumed the practice of his profession,
and was retained in almost every i'm
portant cause in Maryland and the
Supreme Court.
In 1854 he was employed by an
English house to argue an important
case against the United States Govern
ment before the joint English and
American commission in London,
where he received much attention
from the public mon and members OF
the English bar.
In lS69-6l he was sent as one OF
the Maryland Delegates to the Peace
Convention Assem- bled at Washington.
In 1861 he was sent from Baltimore
county to the House Of Delegates, and
after the capture Of New Orleans he
was sent to that city by President
Lincoln, as special commissioner, to
revise the decisions Of Gen. Butler,
the military commandant, in regard
to several important matters.
In lS6l-62 he was elected to the
United States Senate, and in March,
1868, resumed his seat in that body,
r,or -, .hrenco of fnurt an years