Robert Trimble
Encyclopedia
Robert Trimble was an attorney, judge, and a justice of the United States Supreme Court.
, to William Trimble and Mary McMillan. His family moved to Kentucky when he was three years old. They settled in the area outside Boonesboro (now Clark County
).
Trimble's opportunities for early education were sparse, but he studied what material was available and taught school for a few years. He studied law at a new law school in Lebanon, Ohio
. He also read law
under George Nicholas
until Nicholas' death in 1799, then continued his studies under future Louisiana
Senator James Brown. He was licensed to practice law by the Kentucky Court of Appeals
in 1803 and commenced practice in Paris, Kentucky
.
Trimble married Nancy Timberlake and the two had at least six children.
in the Kentucky House of Representatives
. During his single term in the legislature, he found that he disliked the life of a politician, and thereafter refused election to any public office, including two nominations to the U.S. Senate.
In 1808, Trimble was commissioned as an associate justice on the Kentucky Court of Appeals
, where he was a colleague of future U.S. Attorney General Felix Grundy
. He was offered elevation to chief justice of the court in 1810, but declined because his financial situation dictated that he return to his legal practice.
President
James Madison
appointed Trimble U.S. Attorney
for the District of Kentucky in 1813. On January 28, 1817, Madison nominated Trimble to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky vacated by the death of Harry Innes
. Trimble was quickly confirmed by the United States Senate
on January 31, 1817, and received his commission the same day.
On April 11, 1826, President John Quincy Adams
nominated Trimble to a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States
vacated by the death of Justice Thomas Todd
. Trimble was Adams' only appointment to the Supreme Court and the first U.S. District Judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Adams is said to have appointed Trimble because of the "Kentucky" vacancy created by the death of Thomas Todd and on the advice of Henry Clay
, who was Secretary of State
. Trimble was again confirmed by the United States Senate on May 9, 1826, and received his commission the same day.
As a member of the court, Trimble generally agreed with the opinions of Chief Justice John Marshall
. In a notable departure, he wrote the majority opinion in the case of Ogden v. Saunders
; Marshall wrote the dissenting opinion in the case. Trimble served on the Court until his sudden death from a "malignant bilious fever" on August 25, 1828. He died in Paris, Kentucky
and was buried in the Paris Cemetery. Trimble County, Kentucky
is named in his honor.
Early life and family
Trimble was born in Berkeley County, VirginiaBerkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
, to William Trimble and Mary McMillan. His family moved to Kentucky when he was three years old. They settled in the area outside Boonesboro (now Clark County
Clark County, Kentucky
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1793. The population was 35,613 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Winchester, Kentucky...
).
Trimble's opportunities for early education were sparse, but he studied what material was available and taught school for a few years. He studied law at a new law school in Lebanon, Ohio
Lebanon, Ohio
The population at the 2010 census was 20,033. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,962 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,440.6 people per square mile . There were 6,218 housing units at an average density of 528.1 per square mile...
. He also read law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
under George Nicholas
George Nicholas
George Nicholas was the first professor of law at Transylvania University in Kentucky. He was also briefly attorney general of Kentucky, and had been several times a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was the son of Robert C. Nicholas, Sr.; his brothers included Wilson Cary Nicholas...
until Nicholas' death in 1799, then continued his studies under future Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Senator James Brown. He was licensed to practice law by the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the lower of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky....
in 1803 and commenced practice in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
.
Trimble married Nancy Timberlake and the two had at least six children.
Political career
In 1803, Trimble was elected to represent Bourbon CountyBourbon County, Kentucky
Bourbon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the remnant of what was previously a much larger Bourbon County, established as part of Virginia in 1785, and comprising what are now thirty-four modern Kentucky counties...
in the Kentucky House of Representatives
Kentucky House of Representatives
The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form a House district, except when necessary to preserve...
. During his single term in the legislature, he found that he disliked the life of a politician, and thereafter refused election to any public office, including two nominations to the U.S. Senate.
In 1808, Trimble was commissioned as an associate justice on the Kentucky Court of Appeals
Kentucky Court of Appeals
The Kentucky Court of Appeals is the lower of Kentucky's two appellate courts, under the Kentucky Supreme Court. Prior to a 1975 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution the Kentucky Court of Appeals was the only appellate court in Kentucky....
, where he was a colleague of future U.S. Attorney General Felix Grundy
Felix Grundy
Felix Grundy was a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Senator from Tennessee who also served as the 13th Attorney General of the United States.-Biography:...
. He was offered elevation to chief justice of the court in 1810, but declined because his financial situation dictated that he return to his legal practice.
President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
appointed Trimble U.S. Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
for the District of Kentucky in 1813. On January 28, 1817, Madison nominated Trimble to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Kentucky vacated by the death of Harry Innes
Harry Innes
Harry Innes was the first United States federal judge in Kentucky.Innes was born in Caroline County, Virginia, the son of the Reverend Robert Innes and Catharine Innes. Innes attended Donald Robertson's school and William and Mary College...
. Trimble was quickly confirmed by the United States Senate
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...
on January 31, 1817, and received his commission the same day.
On April 11, 1826, President John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
nominated Trimble to a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States
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...
vacated by the death of Justice Thomas Todd
Thomas Todd
Thomas Todd was an American attorney and U.S. Supreme Court justice. Raised in the Colony of Virginia, he studied law and later participated in the founding of Kentucky, where he served as a clerk, judge, and justice. He was married twice and had a total of eight children. Todd joined the U.S...
. Trimble was Adams' only appointment to the Supreme Court and the first U.S. District Judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Adams is said to have appointed Trimble because of the "Kentucky" vacancy created by the death of Thomas Todd and on the advice of Henry Clay
Henry Clay
Henry Clay, Sr. , was a lawyer, politician and skilled orator who represented Kentucky separately in both the Senate and in the House of Representatives...
, who was Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
. Trimble was again confirmed by the United States Senate on May 9, 1826, and received his commission the same day.
As a member of the court, Trimble generally agreed with the opinions of Chief Justice John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
. In a notable departure, he wrote the majority opinion in the case of Ogden v. Saunders
Ogden v. Saunders
Ogden v. Saunders, 25 U.S. 213 , was a United States Supreme Court case that determined the scope of a bankruptcy law in contrast to a clause of the Constitution of the United States...
; Marshall wrote the dissenting opinion in the case. Trimble served on the Court until his sudden death from a "malignant bilious fever" on August 25, 1828. He died in Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
and was buried in the Paris Cemetery. Trimble County, Kentucky
Trimble County, Kentucky
Trimble County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population was 8,125. Its county seat is Bedford. The county is named for Robert Trimble. Trimble is a prohibition or dry county. It is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical...
is named in his honor.