John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches. Previously, Marshall had been a leader of the Federalist Party in Virginia and served in the United States House of Representatives from 1799 to 1800. He was Secretary of State under President John Adams from 1800 to 1801. The longest-serving Chief Justice of the United States, Marshall dominated the Court for over three decades and... played a significant role in the development of the American legal system. Most notably, he reinforced the principle that federal courts are obligated to exercise judicial review, by disregarding purported laws if they violate the Constitution. Thus, Marshall cemented the position of the American judiciary as an independent and influential branch of government.
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| Birthdate: | September 24, 1755 |
| Birthplace: | Germantown, Virginia |
| Date of death: | July 6, 1835 |
| Education: | College of William and Mary |
| Religion: | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |