Page:Autobiographies and portraits of the President, cabinet, Supreme court, and Fifty-fifth Congress (IA autobiographiesp02neal).pdf/47

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JOHN MARSHALL HARLAN


John Marshall Harlan, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, was born in Boyle County, Ky., June 1, 1833; was graduated from Center College, Kentucky, in 1850; studied law at Transylvania University; practiced his profession at Frankfort; was elected county judge in 1858; was elector on the Bell and Everett ticket; removed to Louisville and formed a law partnership with Hon. W. F. Bullock; in 1861 raised the Tenth Kentucky Infantry Regiment and served in Gen. George H. Thomas's division; owing to the death of his father in the spring of 1863, although his name was before the Senate for confirmation as a brigadier-general, he felt compelled to resign; was elected attorney-general by the Union party 1863 and filled the office until 1867, when he returned to active practice in Louisville; was the Republican nominee for governor in 1871; his name was presented by the Republican convention of his State in 1875 for the vice-presidency; was chairman of the delegation from his State to the national Republican convention in 1876; declined a diplomatic position as a substitute for the attorney-generalship, to which, before he reached Washington, President Hayes intended to assign him; served as a member of the Louisiana commission; was commissioned an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court November 29, 1877, and took his seat December 10, same year.