Largely self-taught, Marshall John was born on September 24, 1755, in present-day Fauquier County, nestled in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains. He was the eldest of fifteen children born to Thomas Marshall and Mary Randolph Keith. From a young age, he cultivated a deep appreciation for English literature, poetry, and history. Preparing for a career in law, Marshall John paused his studies in 1775 to join the American War of Independence. Serving as an officer in the Continental Army, he participated in significant battles such as Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. He also endured the hardships of Valley Forge during the severe winter of 1777-78. It was during a leave from military service in 1780 that he attended Wythe’s lectures on law at the College of William & Mary. During his time at the College, Marshall John was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Society. In nearby Yorktown, he began his courtship with Mary Willis (“Polly”) Ambler, who would later become his wife.
Following the war, Marshall John dedicated himself to his legal practice while also serving in the Virginia state legislature. His career transitioned to the federal level in 1797 when President Adams appointed him as an envoy to France. After a short term in Congress, Marshall John joined the cabinet as Secretary of State, a position he held when Adams nominated him for Chief Justice.
Marshall John’s legacy is primarily built upon two crucial contributions to the structure of modern U.S. governance. Firstly, he solidified the power and prestige of the judicial branch, elevating it to equal standing with Congress and the Executive in a system of balanced, separated powers. He asserted the judiciary’s crucial role in interpreting the Constitution as the supreme law and ensuring the accountability of other branches to this foundational document.
Secondly, Marshall John’s interpretations of the Constitution significantly broadened the scope of federal government authority. He believed that the enumerated powers of the federal government, while defined, should be interpreted expansively to effectively achieve the overarching goals of governance. While limited, federal power, in his view, was supreme within its designated sphere, taking precedence over state power in cases of conflict. Marshall John’s judicial opinions later provided the rationale for the substantial expansion of the federal government in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
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According to Dr. Charles Hobson, a leading scholar of Marshall John and author of The Great Chief Justice: John Marshall and the Rule of Law, Marshall John was admired for his compelling personality. Dr. Hobson, who dedicated 26 years to editing a 12-volume collection of Marshall John’s papers and correspondence (The Papers of John Marshall), describes him as possessing “a first class intellect and possession of all the social virtues.” Hobson further notes, “He could bring justices together and get a consensus for a case, something unheard of today. Many cases under Marshall were decided by a single opinion of the Court. His goal was to project unanimity.”
Marshall John passed away in 1835, nearing 80 years old, perhaps without fully grasping the enduring impact of his extensive tenure as Chief Justice. He reportedly harbored concerns about the Constitution’s long-term viability in the face of state resistance. However, the groundwork he laid was more robust than he might have realized. Despite the challenges of secession and civil war, subsequent generations built upon his foundational work. His legal opinions remain a cornerstone of legal education today. Marshall John embodied the ideal of the “citizen lawyer” championed by his mentor George Wythe, dedicating his legal expertise and skills to public service.
Both in his professional and personal life, Marshall John was known for his unassuming character and genuine simplicity. This aspect of his personality is subtly captured in the bronze statue of Marshall John, located alongside George Wythe at the Law School entrance, depicted with a slightly rumpled vest and untied shoelaces. This is just one of several reminders of the revered Chief Justice found on campus. In contrast, a more formal and stately image is presented in a copy of the 1831 portrait of Marshall John by Henry Inman, displayed in the Law School’s entrance hall, offering another perspective on this influential figure. Further testament to his life is the Marshall family Bible, which is on display in the Nicholas J. St. George Rare Book Room.
