Did You Know...

Lincoln’s First Appointment to the Court

Noah H. Swayne was the first of President Abraham Lincoln’s five appointments to the Supreme Court. Born in Virginia to Quaker parents, Swayne later relocated to the free state of Ohio because of his opposition to slavery. He held various elected positions in Ohio, starting in 1826 as the prosecuting attorney of Coshocton County, followed by his election in 1829 to the Ohio legislature. In 1830, President Andrew Jackson appointed Swayne as the U.S. attorney for Ohio, a position he held for over 10 years. Following his service as U.S. attorney, Swayne returned to private practice. On January 21, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln nominated Swayne to fill the vacancy on the Court following the death of Justice John McLean. At the time of the appointment, the National Intelligencer congratulated the president on choosing a nominee of “great legal training and eminence in the walks of his profession.” Swayne served on the Court for nearly 19 years until he retired in 1881.