The most notable figure of the judiciary of this country is
undoubtedly Chief Justice Melville Weston Fuller, of the Supreme
Court of the United States. He is in every way the ideal dignitary of
the bench, impressive as to appearance, forceful in forensic oratory,
learned in the law and unblemished as to reputation, personal and
professional. He was born February 11, 1833, at Augusta, Maine, coming
of sterling New England stock. Graduating from Bowdoin college in 1853,
and later educated at Harvard law school, he, in 1855, was admitted to
the bar. Forming a law partnership in the town of his birth, he later
established there a Democratic paper known as The Age, of which he
became assistant editor. The venture was successful and The Age became
a power in political circles in Maine. Young Fuller was also elected
president of the common council, and city attorney for the town. But
Augusta was too small a sphere for the rising young lawyer, so in
1859 he went to Chicago, where he opened a law office. Simultaneously
he took an active part in Illinois politics. It was not long before
he became a recognized political leader locally. In 1863 he became a
member of the Illinois legislature, in which capacity he confirmed the
beliefs of those who regarded him as a coming man. He was delegate to
a number of Democratic national conventions, in each of which he was a
prominent figure. President Cleveland appointed him chief justice on
April 30, 1888, and he was confirmed and seated the year following.