John Marshall - A Life In Law

by Leonard Baker

Easton Press, 1990. Collector's Edition. Leather Bound. 2 volumes complete. John A Life In Law is a major biography - researched from thousands of unpublished papers - of the great American statesman whose life (1775 - 1853) spanned eighty critical, turbulent years in American history. We first meet John Marshall as a nineteen-year-old Virginia frontiersman urging the Minutemen to brighten their muskets; later, in the post-war years, Marshall emerges as a leader of the Richmond bar - perhaps the finest collection of lawyers in the nation's history. We see John Marshall, the "envoy extraordinaire," as he plays a crucial role in the famous Paris XYZ affair, and finally, as Chief Justice of the United States, a position he holds for three decades, forging the court into a strong arm of the federal government equal to the presidency and the Congress. Here also is John Marshall the man; a passionate husband, devoted family man, and brilliant peer of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Moore, Robert Morris, and Joseph Story.

Genres: Biography, Law, History, Politics

846 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1974

Reviews

[Buddy Don · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of the founding fathers, about whom I've been reading a lot in recent years, the three who stand out as most necessary are Washington, Hamilton and Marshall. I know that leaves out Jefferson, and we can't deny his importance, but in his case, he could see what he was unable to accomplish in his own life (with regard to his greatest principles of liberty and equality for all humans). The other three seem to me to have been able to rise above themselves and their times to establish by their actions something worthy and lasting. I had always been aware of Marshall's importance to the establishment of the Supreme Court in constitutional review, but not as aware of his defense of the union and the inviolability of contracts.

As a book, this one was a good, complete bioraphy with great notes and bibliography. It was a good read for the most part, though if one doesn't enjoy reading about fine points of law, one might find it a bit boring. The hardest parts to read (as I find is almost always the case in reading about the founders) comes when the topic turns to the question of slavery and the handling of the native Americans population, in both cases reading that can shame anyone proud of this country. Marshall was among the more enlightened in belief and actions, though he couldn't escape the nearly universal belief (among many of the founders) that there was some kind of natural chain of being that set some humans as owners, others as owned. All of which was needed to justify the use of human beings as chattle slaves. On the US' treatment of the natives they found in their way, there is little of which to be proud, as we all know or should know. I am certainly glad our history has been blessed by the likes of Marshall (and Hamilton and Washington .... ).

[Relstuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot to the life of John Marshall. A war veteran who knew how to lead men, he went on to become a successful attorney leading people to what he thought was right in the courtroom. He was also a successful diplomat representing America well in the XYZ affair resisting the request for a bribe from the French government asking to be paid in return for not attacking American ships.

He was selected for the Supreme Court in the waning days of John Adams presidency. Much to the chagrin of in the incoming president Thomas Jefferson, who was very upset to see someone of the opposite party with political values very different than his, placed in the position of Chief Judge. If the retiring judge could have waiting just two more months Jefferson could have recommended someone not so keen on giving the federal government much more power than the states. His long tenure on the court led to the same type of concerns we hear today about life time appointments. Many political concerns with how the Supreme Court operates have been around since the beginning.

Marshall lived much longer than most of his contemporaries. One reason is probably because he took a brisk three mile walk every day. Marshall, like many men who become someone in life over the past few hundred years, was part of a group of men who would get together on a regular basis and enjoy each others company. The rule for one such group he was in for decades was no talk of politics. When we look at many of the great men in history, they became great because they learned how to be men from other men.

There are many reasons our country and our government operate the way they do. John Marshall's life and legacy in pushing for the power of the federal over the state and for the law over politics and feelings when deciding cases is certainly part of why we are the way we are today.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the 1st book of the founding fathers that I have ever read and I have a very strong interest In the Supreme Court andAnything surrounding the legal system and I thought this was a very accurate and complete biography of John Marshall. I learned a lot about how the country was founded and how they all worked together and a lot of the legal aspects that had to be worked out. This book was lengthy and kind of dry and some parts but you get a real good sense of how things got started and I I normally try to leave politics out of my reviews but I think in this case it is warranted I believe every politician in today's society in the Republican party should go back and read this book and learn from history . All you would be trump supporters out there also need to go back and read this book and Then We'll see a lot of comparisons as to what happened back then versus what the Orange haired animal tried to do the entire 4 years he was in office and now we have to dig ourselves out and clean up his mess. We making progress progress But have a long way to go. I do like how this book is divided up into many different sections it starts in Marshall's early life And you get a very clear roadmap of his early law career All the way up to the Supreme Court and his death.

You also have some pictures that are included in this book that shows you historical figures In places that had historical impacts in the making of the nation I only adds to the impact this book should have on a person when they read it.
Thank you for reading my review hope you enjoy.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I can understand why the Liberty Bell cracked when rung for Marshall's passing. It was embarrassed! I am 400 pages into Bakers hegemony of John Marshall. Fortunately I have read dozens of books on the time period and recognize when an author distorts common knowledge to either condemn enemies or support his heroes. I will reserve final opinion of Baker's book but so far have been impressed with how Jefferson was a 100% bad person and Marshall was a 100% wonderful reasonable fine upstanding man. RIGHT!!
Finally finished the book. There were some bright spots, information I had not found other places, and was pleased to see the author did a little better balance by commenting on errors and mistakes of Marshall. Still, in spite of his leadership in guiding SCOTUS through the early years I cannot help but wonder how much better our country would have been without his Federalist ideology. I think the country would have been better off with Marshall as president and Jefferson as Chief Justice. I changed my rating from 2 stars to 4 stars because although a long book it was informative and that is why I read.