John Catron

John Catron ( born January 7, 1786 Wythe County, Virginia; † May 30, 1865 in Nashville, Tennessee) was an American lawyer and 1837-1865 Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Life

Little is known about the early life of Catron. He fought in the British -American War under Andrew Jackson. In 1815 he received his license to practice law since 1818 and maintained a private law firm in Nashville.

Career

From 1824 to 1834 Catron worked as a judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee, in 1831 as its president. After 1834 his body was removed, he took his work as a lawyer again. During the presidential election of 1836 Catron led the campaign of Martin Van Buren in Tennessee.

After the 1836 Congress had extended the Supreme Court from seven to nine judges, President Jackson appointed Catron on March 3, 1837 Deputy Judge. In this position he held until his death in 1865. During his tenure, he was a champion of slavery. After his death no successor has been named as the number of judges was meanwhile risen to ten and has now been reduced again.

Catron is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.