the judicators
This page stores information about judges that influenced 19th century American history.
Lecompte, Samuel D.
- Associated with the infamous “Sacking of Lawrence,” May 21, 1856
- Born in Dorchester County, Maryland, December 13, 1814. Died in Kansas City, April 24, 1888.
- First chief justice of the Territory of Kansas
- Prominent on the bench of Leavenworth County and a representative in both houses of the Legislature
- Graduated from Jefferson College, Pennsylvania
- Studied law in Maryland and was admitted to the bar
- Served one term in the Maryland Legislatures
- Appointed by President Pierce in October, 1854 as chief justice of the Territory of Kansas Held position until March 9, 1859.
- “At the close of the Civil war he renounced his democratic beliefs and became a republican.”
- Served four years as probate judge of Leavenworth County
- Represented the Leavenworth County in the State Legislatures of 1867-68
- April 15, 1874 – elected chairman of the Republican Congressional Committee of the First District
Source: http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/biol/lecompsd.html accessed February 15, 2009.
Taney, Roger B.
- 5th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, March 28, 1836 – October 12, 1864
- Presided over the Supreme Court which handed down a ruling on the Dred Scott case, March 1857
- 12th United States Secretary of the Treasury, September 23, 1833 – June 25, 1834,
