Kingsley A. Taft
Encyclopedia
Kingsley Arter Taft was an American politician
and distant relative of Ohio
's more famous Taft family
. He served as chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and also served briefly as a United States Senator
. Kingsley's father, Frederick Lovett Taft, II was also a noted figure in the Ohio
legal profession.
Taft was born in Cleveland, Ohio
. He graduated from high school
there and received a bachelor's degree from Amherst College
, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
, in 1925. He received a law degree from Harvard University
in 1928. Taft then practiced as a lawyer
in Ohio. He rose to a partnership in the law firm that would eventually become Arter and Hadden.
Taft served in the Ohio House of Representatives
from 1933 to 1934 and then in 1940, he was elected to the Shaker Heights, Ohio
, board of education
on which he served until 1942, the last year as president. He served in the U.S. Army
during World War II
, eventually rising to the rank of Major.
In 1946, when U.S. Senator Harold H. Burton (R-Ohio) resigned in order to accept an appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court
, the vacancy was filled by a special election. In that election Taft ran and defeated Democrat Henry P. Webber. Taft served out Burton's term, which expired in 1947, but Taft did not run for election to the next full term.
In 1948, he was elected to a judgeship on the Ohio Supreme Court, defeating Democrat Robert M. Sohngen. In 1954, he was re-elected to the position without opposition. In 1960, Taft defeated Joseph H. Ellison for a third term on the Supreme Court. In 1962, Taft decided to run for Chief Justice of the Court defeating Carl V. Weygandt. In 1968, Taft was elected Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
, defeating Democrat John C. Duffy. Taft died in office in 1970.
Taft was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and distant relative of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
's more famous Taft family
Taft family
The Taft family of the United States hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, with historic origins in Massachusetts; its members have served Ohio, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, Utah, and the United States in various positions, such as Governor of Ohio, Governor of Rhode Island, U.S. Senator , U.S...
. He served as chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and also served briefly as a United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Kingsley's father, Frederick Lovett Taft, II was also a noted figure in the Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
legal profession.
Taft was born in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
. He graduated from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
there and received a bachelor's degree from Amherst College
Amherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi
Phi Kappa Psi is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at Jefferson College in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania on February 19, 1852. There are over a hundred chapters and colonies at accredited four year colleges and universities throughout the United States. More than 112,000 men have been...
, in 1925. He received a law degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1928. Taft then practiced as a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in Ohio. He rose to a partnership in the law firm that would eventually become Arter and Hadden.
Taft served in the Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
from 1933 to 1934 and then in 1940, he was elected to the Shaker Heights, Ohio
Shaker Heights, Ohio
Shaker Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population was 28,448. It is an inner-ring streetcar suburb of Cleveland that abuts the city on its eastern side.-Topography:Shaker Heights is located at...
, board of education
Board of education
A board of education or a school board or school committee is the title of the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or higher administrative level....
on which he served until 1942, the last year as president. He served in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, eventually rising to the rank of Major.
In 1946, when U.S. Senator Harold H. Burton (R-Ohio) resigned in order to accept an appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, the vacancy was filled by a special election. In that election Taft ran and defeated Democrat Henry P. Webber. Taft served out Burton's term, which expired in 1947, but Taft did not run for election to the next full term.
In 1948, he was elected to a judgeship on the Ohio Supreme Court, defeating Democrat Robert M. Sohngen. In 1954, he was re-elected to the position without opposition. In 1960, Taft defeated Joseph H. Ellison for a third term on the Supreme Court. In 1962, Taft decided to run for Chief Justice of the Court defeating Carl V. Weygandt. In 1968, Taft was elected Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court
The office of Chief Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court was created in 1912 as an elected office with a term of six years. Prior to this, there were Chief Judges. The office is currently held by Maureen O'Connor.-Chief Judges of the Ohio Supreme Court:...
, defeating Democrat John C. Duffy. Taft died in office in 1970.
Taft was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
.