Peter Vivian Daniel

Peter Vivian Daniel ( born April 24, 1784 Stafford County, Virginia, † May 31 1860 in Richmond, Virginia ) was an American politician and lawyer. He held office from 1841 to 1860 as a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Daniel initially received home schooling and moved in 1802 to the College of New Jersey. However, after just one year, he returned to Virginia to study law in Richmond at Edmund Randolph. He received his license to practice law in 1808 and married shortly after his teacher's daughter. 1809 Daniel was elected to the House of Representatives from Virginia; Already in 1818 he became vice governor of the state. This office practiced from Daniel until 1836, when U.S. President Andrew Jackson appointed him to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to the judge. Five years later, Jackson's successor, Martin Van Buren appointed him to the Supreme Court of the United States. He worked there until his death in 1860.

In his capacity as Judge Daniel was rather unremarkable. In his 18-year tenure, he wrote only one decision. In the case of Dred Scott v. Sandford, he joined as the majority. Daniel is known for his often extremely farsighted dissenting opinions.

Further Reading

• Justice Daniel dissenting: A Biography of Peter V. Daniel, 1784-1860, John P. Frank, Harvard University Press, 1964 ISBN 0-678-08028-3