MARSHALL, John, chief justice of the United States: b. Germantown (now Midland), Fauquier County Va., 24 Sept. 1755; d. Phila delphia, 6 July 1835. He was the eldest son of Col. Thomas Marshall of Westmoreland County, Va., a distinguished officer in the French War and in the War of Independence, and of Mary Keith, a member of the well known Randolph family. Thomas Marshall re moved from Westmoreland County to Fauquier soon after his marriage; this community was sparsely settled and the educational advantages which he could give his children were meagre, consequently he became their earliest teacher and succeeded in imbuing them with his own love of literature and of history. For two years John Marshall had, as tutor, James Thompson of Scotland and he was sent for one year to the academy of the Messrs. Campbell of West moreland County, where James Monroe was also a pupil. He had no college training except a few lectures on law and natural philosophy at William and Mary in 1779. He was always fond of field sports and excelling in running, leaping and quoit throwing. He loved the free natural life of the country, and his long tramps through the woods around his father's home, Oak Hill, together with his athletic exercises gave him great strength and agility. At 18 he began the study of law, but soon left his studies to enter the Revolutionary army. He was active in endeavoring to enlist men for the service and helped to form and drill a company of vol unteers. As a member of his father's regiment he took part in the battle of Great Bridge where he displayed signal valor. In 1776 he became a lieutenant in the llth Virginia, and the next year was made captain. He served in Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, al ways displaying great courage and valor and a cheerful acceptance of hardships and privations. This experience was of untold value to Marshall, it broadened his views and quickened his insight in governmental questions. As he says, he entered the army a Virginian and left it an American. In 1780 during a period of military inactivity he attended a course of law lectures at William and Mary and in 1781, after leaving the army, was granted a license and be gan the practice of law in Fauquier County. The next year he was elected to the Virginia assembly, and shortly afterward was made a member of the executive council. He served his State as legislator during eight sessions. In 1784, although he had then removed his resi dence to Richmond, he was again elected dele gate from Fauquier County, and in 1787 served as member from the county of Henrico. When the city of Richmond was granted a representa tive in the legislature Marshall had the honor of this office which he held from 1788 to •1791. He was also d member of the Federal Conven tion which met in 1788 to discuss the ratifica tion of the Constitution of the United States, and it was largely due td his convincing argu ments that ratification was carried, as the ques tion was hotly debated and the anti-Constitu tion party had able and determined representa tives. For several years he held no public office
and devoted himself entirely to his extensive law practice, but in 1795 was again elected to the legislature. During this session he defended the unpopular °Jay Treaty" with England, and by his overwhelming arguments completely re futed the theory of his opponents that the ex ecutive has no power to negotiate a commercial treaty. Marshall's attitude during his service as legislator toward all questions concerning Federal power demonstrated his increasing be lief that a strong central government is neces sary to real efficiency. In 1783 he had married Mary Ambler, daughter of Jacqueline Ambler, treasurer of the State, and soon after his mar riage made his permanent home in Richmond. The honors bestowed on him testify to the esteem in which he was held by the State and by the nation. He refused the Attorney-Gen eralship and the Ministry to France, but in 1789 accepted the office of Special Envoy to France with Charles Cotesworth Pinckney and Elbridge Gerry. This mission related to the indignities which the French had offered the American navy and attempted to adjust the commercial relations between the two countries. It failed on account of the arrogant attitude of France, but "Marshall's dignified correspond ence added greatly to the prestige of America? and on his return he was welcomed with many evidences of approbation from his grateful countrymen. Yielding to the earnest solicka tion of Washington he became a candidate for Congress and was elected a member of that body in 1798. In Congress he was the leader of the Administration party and the greatest debater in the House on all constitutional mat ters. In one of his most noted speeches he de fended the action of President Adams in the case of Jonathan Robbins and proved conclu sively that this case was a question of execu tive and not of judicial cognizance. In 1800 he was made Secretary of State, and in 1801 ap pointed chief justice of the United States, which office he held until his death in 1835. In 1829 he, like ex-Presidents Madison and James Monroe, was a member of the Virginia conven tion which met to alter the State constitution, and by his wisdom and moderation did much to prevent radical changes and to 'thwart the attempts of politicians against the independence of the judiciary. In 1831 his health, hitherto unusually vigorous, began to fail ; he underwent a severe surgical operation in Philadelphia and was seemingly restored, but the death of his wife was a great shock and a returnqf the disease in 1835 proved fatal. He died in P'hila delphia, whither he had gone for medical relief, and was buried by the side of his wife in the New-Burying-Ground, now Shockhoe Hill Cem etery, Richmond. The sorrow over the country was deep and widespread; even his bitterest enemies mourned for the kindly, upright man.