- March 6, 1809, 217 years ago — Death of Thomas Heyward Jr..
- March 6, 1724, 302 years ago — Birth of Henry Laurens, President of the Continental Congress.
- March 7, 1707, 319 years ago — Birth of Stephen Hopkins, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- March 7, 1699, 327 years ago — Birth of Susanna Boylston Adams, mother of John Adams.
Luther Martin
MARTIN, Luther, lawyer and statesman, born in New Brunswick, N.J., 9 February, 1748; died in New York City, 10 July, 1826.
He graduated from Princeton in 1766 and became attorney-general of Maryland. Martin was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where he opposed the proposed Constitution, arguing it gave too much power to the federal government. He refused to sign it and became a leading Anti-Federalist.
Despite his opposition, he later defended Aaron Burr in his treason trial and served as Maryland’s attorney-general for over 20 years. Martin was known for his brilliant legal mind, eccentric personality, and fierce independence.
He spent his final years in poverty and was cared for by Chief Justice John Marshall, his former adversary. Martin’s legacy is tied to early debates over federalism and individual rights.
Source:
Wilson, James Grant, and John Fiske, eds. Appleton’s Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1887. Patriot Echoes Archive
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