Francis Scott Key, who became famous for writing the words to the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Which justice was a descendant of John Cotton, the great sixteenth-century Puritan theologian and author?
William Cushing, one of the Court’s first six justices, was related to John Cotton, who was famous for writing The Way of the Churches of Christ in New England (1645), among other books.
Which justice married a sister of first lady Dolley Madison?
Thomas Todd married Lucy Payne, sister of first lady Dolley Madison. They were married on President James Madison’s plantation.
Which justice had a twin?
Justice Benjamin Cardozo had a twin sister named Emily.
“Star-Spangled Banner” author Francis Scott Key (above) was the brother-in-law of Chief Justice Roger Taney. Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Which U.S. Supreme Court justices were lifelong bachelors?
There were five justices who never married. They include: William Henry Moody (served on the Court, 1906–10); James McReynolds (1914–41); John Hessin Clarke (1916–22); Benjamin Cardozo (1932–38); and Frank Murphy (1940–49). As of 2007, Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who ascended to the bench in 1990, also has never married.
Which justice had the most children?
Benjamin Robert Curtis had twelve children, five with his first wife Eliza, three with second wife Nancy, and four with third wife Malleville. Robert Trimble, who served from 1826 to 1828, had eleven children with his wife Nancy. John Marshall had ten children.
Which justice left nearly his entire estate to charities?
Justice James C. McReynolds, known for his rude behavior toward Jewish justice Louis Brandeis and to women in general, surprised many by leaving nearly his entire estate to charities, including a children’s hospital. He had supported thirty-three children injured by a Nazi attack in World War II.
Felix Frankfurter, shown here in his office in November 1957, was one of six U.S. Supreme Court justices who was not born in the United States. He was born in Vienna, Austria. AP Images.
BIRTH, DEATH, AND TENURE
Which U.S. Supreme Court justices were not born in the United States?
Six justices were not born in the United States. James Wilson, who served on the Court from 1789 to 1798, was born in Caskardy, Scotland, in 1742. James Iredell, who served from 1790 to 1799, was born in Lewes, England. William Paterson, who served from 1793 to 1806, was born in County Antrim, Ireland. David Brewer, who served from 1889 to 1910, was born in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey). George Sutherland, who served from 1922 to 1938, was born in Buckingshire, England. Felix Frankfurter, who served from 1939 to 1962, was born in Vienna, Austria.
In what four states have the most justices been born?
Twelve justices have been born in New York: John Jay, Henry Brockhurst Livingston, Smith Thompson, Samuel Nelson, Joseph Bradley, Ward Hunt, Samuel Blatchford, Rufus Peckham, Charles Evans Hughes, Benjamin Cardozo, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and John Roberts. Ten justices have been born in Virginia: John Blair, Bushrod Washington, John Marshall, Thomas Todd, Robert Trimble, Philip Barbour, John McKinley, Peter Daniel, Noah Swayne, and Lewis Powell. Nine justices have been born in Massachusetts: William Cushing, Joseph Story, Benjamin Curtis, Horace Gray, Henry Billings Brown, Oliver Wendell Holmes, William Henry Moody, Harold Burton, and David Souter. Kentucky, the Bluegrass State, was home to eight justices. They are John Marshall Harlan, Samuel Miller, Horace Lurton, James McReynolds, Louis Brandeis, Stanley Reed, Wiley Rutledge, and Fred Vinson.
Which Supreme Court justices shared the same birthday?
Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (who served from 1888 to 1893), Warren Burger (1969–86), and David Souter (1990–) all were born on September 17. Owen Roberts (1930–45) and James Byrnes (1941–42) were both born on May 2. Roger Brooke Taney (1836–64) and Pierce Butler (1922–39) were both born on March 17. David Davis (1862–77) and Samuel Blatchford (1882–93) were both born on March 9. Thomas Todd (1807–1826) and Potter Stewart (1958–91) were both born on January 23.
Which two justices died on the same day?
Retired chief justice William Howard Taft and Justice Edward Sanford each died on March 8, 1930. Taft died of heart failure while Sanford died unexpectedly of uremic poisoning.
Which justices lived to at least the age of 90?
The U.S. Supreme Court’s eight nanogenarians were Stanley Reed (95), Oliver Wendell Holmes (93), George Shiras Jr. (92), James F. Byrnes (92), Gabriel Duvall (91), William Brennan (91), Lewis Powell (90), and Harry Blackmun (90). Holmes is the only one of the eight who continued to serve on the Court while he was in his 90s.
Which justice did not live to see his fiftieth birthday?
Justice James Iredell, who served from 1790 to 1799, died at the age of 48. He is the only justice to die before the age of 50.
How many justices have served at least thirty years on the Court?
Twelve members of the U.S. Supreme Court have served at least thirty years on the U.S. Supreme Court. They are: William O. Douglas (36 years), Stephen J. Field (34), John Marshall (34), Joseph Story (34), John Marshall Harlan (34), Hugo Black (34), William Brennan (33), William Rehnquist (33), John McLean (32), James Wayne (32), William Johnson (30), and current (as of 2007) justice John Paul Stevens (31).
Which U.S. Supreme Court justices served the shortest and longest terms on the bench respectively?
Thomas Johnson served the shortest time on the U.S. Supreme Court, from November 1791 to February 1793. William O. Douglas served the longest time on the Court—36 years and seven months—from April 1939 to November 1975.
Who were the youngest justices upon nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court?
Joseph Story and William Johnson were both appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court at age 32, though Story was younger by a few months.
Who was the youngest chief justice?
John Jay, the nation’s first chief justice, was only 44 years old upon his appointment by President George Washington in 1789.
Who was the oldest justice appointed to the Court?
The oldest person appointed as a new justice to the Court was Horace Lurton, who was 65 when President William Howard Taft nominated him in 1909. The oldest person to become chief justice was 68-year-old Harlan Fiske Stone. He had spent the previous sixteen years as an associate justice before being nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941.
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
Which presidents appointed the most justices to the U.S. Supreme Court?
George Washington elevated eleven men to the U.S. Supreme Court. Franklin Delano Roosevelt appointed nine. Of course, Washington, as the first president, had to nominate a group of men (six) to