John Marshall Highway in Gainesville and Haymarket, Virginia is named for a great and legendary Virginian, John Marshall. Having snapped this photo of a statue in his honor while perusing Warrenton, Virginia's Courthouse, I decided to learn more about the man behind the name.
John Marshall was born on September 24, 1755 in Germantown, Virginia (located in what is now Fauquier County.) His first note in history was serving under George Washington in the American Revolutionary Wary. From there, as Virginia formed its State Government, Marshall was involved. He was elected as a delegate, serving from 1782-1789, and again from 1795-1796. During his tenure, he was involved in ratifying the Constitution of the United States on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Marshall was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving from 1799-1800. He was then called to serve at the right hand of President John Adams as Secretary of State, a position he held for just under a year from 1800-1801.
John Marshall made the most notable impact on our Country's history when he became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Marshall established Judicial Review, or the power of the courts to strike down unconstitutional laws.
To this day, John Marshall retains his place in U.S. history as the longest serving Chief Justice of the Supreme Court He served in that position until the day he died, July 6, 1835.
So next time you are driving down John Marshall Highway in Gainesville or Haymarket, Virginia, you'll have something to ponder other than traffic.
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