# Roger B. Taney

> chief justice of the United States from 1836 to 1864 (1777–1864)

**Wikidata**: [Q359470](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q359470)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_B._Taney)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/roger-b-taney

## Summary
Roger B. Taney was a U.S. Chief Justice from 1836 to 1864, best known for his controversial decision in the Dred Scott case. Born in 1777, he served as the nation's highest judicial officer for nearly three decades, shaping American constitutional law during a pivotal era.

## Biography
- **Born**: March 17, 1777
- **Nationality**: United States
- **Education**: Dickinson College
- **Known for**: Serving as Chief Justice of the United States (1836–1864) and delivering the Dred Scott decision
- **Employer(s)**: United States Department of the Treasury, Supreme Court of the United States
- **Field(s)**: Law, politics

## Contributions
Roger B. Taney's most notable contribution was his role as Chief Justice, particularly his authorship of the majority opinion in *Dred Scott v. Sandford* (1857), which ruled that African Americans could not be citizens and Congress could not ban slavery in territories. This decision exacerbated sectional tensions leading to the Civil War. Earlier, as Attorney General (1831–1833) and Secretary of the Treasury (1833–1834), he supported President Andrew Jackson's policies, including the withdrawal of government deposits from the Second Bank of the United States.

## FAQs
**What was Roger B. Taney's most significant judicial decision?**  
Taney authored the infamous *Dred Scott v. Sandford* (1857) ruling, which denied citizenship to African Americans and invalidated congressional attempts to restrict slavery in territories, intensifying pre-Civil War divisions.

**Where did Taney work before becoming Chief Justice?**  
Before his 1836 appointment as Chief Justice, Taney served as U.S. Attorney General (1831–1833) and Secretary of the Treasury (1833–1834) under President Andrew Jackson.

**What institutions was Taney affiliated with?**  
Taney was a member of the American Philosophical Society and graduated from Dickinson College. He was also affiliated with the Democratic Party.

**How long did Taney serve as Chief Justice?**  
Taney served as Chief Justice from March 28, 1836, until his death on October 12, 1864, making his tenure one of the longest in U.S. Supreme Court history.

## Why They Matter
Roger B. Taney's legacy is defined by his pivotal role in shaping antebellum constitutional law, particularly through the *Dred Scott* decision, which many historians argue hastened the Civil War by inflaming sectional conflicts over slavery. His judicial philosophy emphasizing states' rights and strict constructionism influenced 19th-century jurisprudence but has been widely criticized for perpetuating racial inequality. Without Taney's rulings, the legal and political trajectory of slavery and civil rights in the United States might have differed significantly.

## Notable For
- **Long Tenure**: One of the longest-serving Chief Justices in U.S. history (1836–1864).
- **Dred Scott Decision**: Authored the majority opinion in the landmark 1857 case.
- **Political Appointments**: Served in Andrew Jackson's cabinet as Attorney General and Treasury Secretary.
- **Institutional Affiliations**: Member of the American Philosophical Society and graduate of Dickinson College.
- **Controversial Legacy**: Widely criticized for rulings that upheld slavery and denied African American citizenship.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Roger Brooke Taney was born on March 17, 1777. He graduated from Dickinson College in 1795, later studying law and beginning his legal practice in Maryland.

### Political and Judicial Career
- **Early Career**: Taney entered politics as a Democratic-Republican, serving in the Maryland House of Delegates (1799–1800) and the U.S. Senate (1831–1833).
- **Cabinet Roles**: As Attorney General (1831–1833) and Treasury Secretary (1833–1834), Taney supported Jackson's policies, including the controversial removal of government funds from the Second Bank of the United States.
- **Supreme Court Appointment**: President Jackson nominated Taney as Chief Justice in 1835, confirmed in 1836. He succeeded John Marshall, transitioning the Court toward greater emphasis on states' rights.

### Key Judicial Decisions
- ***Dred Scott v. Sandford* (1857)**: Taney's majority opinion declared African Americans "beings of an inferior order" with no constitutional rights, ruling that Congress could not prohibit slavery in territories. This decision galvanized abolitionist opposition and contributed to the Republican Party's rise.
- **Other Rulings**: Taney's opinions in cases like *Prigg v. Pennsylvania* (1842) and *Abel v. Illinois* (1854) reinforced federal authority over slavery issues while limiting state power to restrict the institution.

### Institutional Affiliations
Taney was a member of the American Philosophical Society and maintained ties to Dickinson College, his alma mater. His political alignment with the Democratic Party shaped his judicial and executive roles.

### Legacy and Criticism
Taney's legacy is dominated by the *Dred Scott* decision, widely condemned for its racist underpinnings and role in escalating sectional strife. Modern assessments often critique his rulings as morally and legally flawed, though his influence on 19th-century constitutional interpretation remains significant. After his death on October 12, 1864, Congress voted to remove his name from the National Statuary Hall in 2021, reflecting ongoing reevaluation of his historical role.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Genealogics
3. [A New Nation Votes: American Electoral Returns, 1788-1825](https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/TR0022)
4. Find a Grave
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. SNAC
8. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
9. BnF authorities
10. GeneaStar
11. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
12. Integrated Authority File
13. [Source](https://elections.lib.tufts.edu/catalog/TR0022)
14. [Roger Brooke Taney - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Roger_Brooke_Taney)