The Resume

(September 24, 1755-July 6, 1835)
Secretary of State under James Madison (1800-1801)
4th Chief Justice of the United States (February 4, 1801-July 6, 1835)
Landmark cases include 'Marbury v. Madison (1803),' 'Fletcher v. Peck (1816),' 'McCulloch v. Maryland (1819),' 'Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819),' 'Cohens v. Virginia (1821)' and 'Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)'

Why he might be annoying:

He was the eldest of 15 children.
He was still the Secretary of State when he began presiding as Chief Justice.
He refused several appointments, including an opportunity to be an associate justice, because he didn't want to leave Virginia.
He ran for Congress and won, then resigned and accepted an appointment as Secretary of State.
He was a staunch Federalist, which drove Thomas Jefferson up the wall.
He acquitted Aaron Burr of treason in a very unpopular decision.
Andrew Jackson simply flouted the decisions of his court, including a decision that ruled Georgia could not expel the Cherokee ('Trail of Tears').
If he had served today, he would have been referred to as an activist judge.
Legend has it that the liberty bell cracked when it was ringing during his funeral.

Why he might not be annoying:

He grew up on the frontier.
He did not wear fruity whigs.
He admired George Washington so much that he wrote a five volume biography detailing his life.
His most famous moment as a diplomat came during the XYZ affair. He rejected France's attempt to extort $10 million from the United States for diplomatic negotiations and upheld its dignity.
'Marbury v. Madison' was the first landmark Supreme Court case and his opinion formally established judicial review.
Judicial review greatly elevated the power of the Supreme Court and made it a protector of the U.S. Constitution.
His written opinions created and shaped constitutional law.
He served as Chief Justice for a record 35 years.
He opposed the forced migration of Indians.
Although many of his decisions provoked controversy, he won respect through his integrity and honor.
He had a disarming wit that is evident in some of his written opinions.
He is easily the most influential judge in American history.
He loved his wife and was devastated when she passed away.
He died of severe injuries sustained during a stagecoach accident.

Credit: Captain Howdy

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Attorney
• Captain Howdy's Profiles [Series 3]
• Chief Justices of the United States (Ranked: 4)
• Hall of Fame for Great Americans (Ranked: 1900)
• I am on a U.S. Postage Stamp [M-Q]
• I Attended Brown
• I Attended William and Mary
• I Died as Chief Justice of the United States (Ranked: 1835)
• Judges
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• People with John or Mary in their Names
• Profiles 15251-15500 (Ranked: 15273)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 22 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 25 Votes: 32.00% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 66 Votes: 31.82% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 119 Votes: 44.54% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 115 Votes: 46.09% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 121 Votes: 28.10% Annoying