Biography

Roger Brooke Taney was the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, succeeding Chief Justice John Marshall. He attended Dickinson College in Carlisle at the age of 15 and was his class' valedictorian. He then studied law under Judge Jeremiah Chase of Maryland's General Court for three years in Annapolis before being admitted to the bar in 1799. While originally a Federalist, Taney became a Democrat due to his support of Andrew Jackson who appointed Taney as the US Attorney General in 1831. Jackson then appointed Taney to Secretary of the Treasury after firing his previous secretary, and together they disassembled the bank. Although Taney served in the position for nine months, he was the first cabinet nominee to ever be rejected by the Senate. Jackson nominated Taney to the Supreme Court in 1835, but he was once again rejected by the Senate. However, a few months later, Jackson appointed him again to succeed John Marshall as Chief Justice and he was confirmed in 1836. He served for 28 years until his death in 1864.
Taney married Anne Phoebe Charlton Key Taney, sister of Taney's long-time friend Francis Scott Key in 1806, and together they had seven children.