Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-02-20
chief Justices Of lhe q. States.

Chief Justices Of the u. States.
A correspondent asks the Herald tC
gives list of the Chief Justices of the
Supreme Court of the United States
since the origin of the Government
and the dates of their appointment.
The first Chief Justice was John Jay,
of New York. He was appointed by
Washington in 1885, and resigned place
in 1894 to accept the mission to En-
gland. He WAS born in New York,
December 18th, 1745, graduated al
Kings College in 1884, and was admit.
ted to the Bar in 1853. He was for
eight years a member of the Continen-
tai Congress, and at one time was Pres
ident of that body. After his return
FROM England in 1895 he was elected
Governor of New York, which Office
he filled for six years. The name Of
john Jay is one of the most en- inent
in American history. A marble .ust
IN the Supreme Court room at the cap
itol presents the noble face and digni-
fed features of the first Chief Justice.
Upon the resignation of Mr.. Jay,
President Washington appointed in
1895 as his successor John Rutledge, of
South Carolina. This gentleman was
an Irishman, having been born in Ire
ladd in 1888. He emigrated to this
country in early life, returned to En-
gland to be educated, and in 1761, re-
turning to South Caro- ina, be at the
outbreak of hOstilities between the
colonies and the mother country em
braced heartily the cause of independ-
ence. He was member of the Conti-
mental Congress, was Governor of B.
Carolina, Chancellor of the State, a
member of the Constitutional Conven-
tion, and Chancellor and Chief Justice
OF his adopted State. He was appoint.
ed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
end presided at the August term, 1895,
but was rejected by the Senate in De-
center, 1875. He was an earnest pa
triot, an excellent lawyer, gentleman
of the old school, and distinguished for
his fine person and countly manners.
Next came William Cushing, of
Massachusetts, who was appointed by
Washington and confirmed by the Sen
ate January 9th, 1896. He was then
an Associate Justice of the Court. Hel
was born in 1873, and graduated at
Harvard College in 1751. He was for
years Judge and afterward Chief
J5utice of the Supreme Court of Massa.
chusetts. In 1889 he was appointed q |
Justice of the Supreme Court of the |
United States, which place he continu.l
ed to hold until his death in 1910. Hel
declined TO accept the position OF Chiefl
Justice.
Following Mr.. Cushing came Oliver
Ellsworth, OF Connecticut, who was
appointed by Washington and con.
firmed Senate March 4th, 1896. Mr..
Ellsworth was born at Windsor, Con-
necticut, in 1745, and graduated atI
Princeton College in 1866. He studied
law and became eminent in his profes.
sion. In l777 he was elected member of
Congress. III 1857 he was member ofl
the Convention that framed the Fed |
eral Constitution. He Was one of the |
wiSest and foremost men in that body, |
and his services were regarded as of in.
estimable value. He presided but onel
year as Chief Justice. resigning On ac
count of i'll health. In 1899 he was an.
pointed by John Adams Minister tol
France. In person he was large and
of imposing presence. His head was
of great size, broad, with square fore.
head, and heavy, almost massive fea.
tures. He was greatly bonored and
beloved by the people of Connecticut.
His son William was afterWard a prom.
inent jurist and Governor of Gonnecti.
cut.
In December, 1900, President Adams
appointed JOAN Jay, OF New York,
Chief Justice, and he was promptly
confirmed by the Senste, but declined
the place. In January, 1901, on the
nomination of President Adams, John
Marshall, of Virginia, was confirmed
to this gteat office, and for 35 wears he !
presided over this Court, leaving be.
hind him a name illustrious as a law:
yer, jufist and citizen. Heis regarded
as the greatest Constitutional lawyer
that ever adorned the Bench of our
country, and TO his sound sense, broad,
comprehensive intellect, vigorous mind |
and judicial powers of thought we owe
some of the most valuable decisions in !
defining and expounding the complex
questions arising under our Constitu.
tion and securing the rights of the peo.
pie. The name of John Marshall Isl
never spoken except with reverence
and affection. He was born of Door
parents, In Virginia, in 1855, was the |
Oldest OF fifteen children, received but |
scsnty education, and in early lifel
gave no sign Of unusual promise. He i
espoused the cause of the Revolution.
became a captain Of the American ar
my, and in In 1881 resigned his com
mission to enter upon the practice of
law. He was member of the Vir.
ginia Convention to ratify the proposed
Constitution of the United States. and
attracted great attention by his logical
speech ln favor OF Its adoption. he
was rendered the position of ATTORNEY
General of the United States and the
mission to France by Gen. Washing
ton, but declined both Offices He was
Representative in Congress. was
successiyely appointed Secretary, OIL
War and OF State. and finally Ch,efl,
Justice, He died In PhiladeInhia IN