William Marbury was a Georgetown businessman and member of the Federalist party whom John Adams appointed justice of the peace of the District of Columbia the day before he left office. Because Adams had filled 58 judicial positions (42 justices of the peace and 16 federal judgeships), the Secretary of State, John Marshall, was unable to deliver all of the commissions before assuming his new role as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
The men Adams appointed became known as the "Midnight Judges" for Adams' last-minute exploitation of the Judiciary Act of 1801 and the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801.
The appointments were made during the last few days before Adams left office, and were not delivered before the new President, Thomas Jefferson, was sworn in. Jefferson reduced the number of commissions from 42 to 30, and reappointed members of his own party to five of the 30 justice of the peace positions. William Marbury was among those whose commission was destroyed.
Marbury then asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus (an order forcing a public official to take action) compelling Madison to award Marbury his commission.
The Supreme Court determined that, while Marbury was legally entitled to hold the position Adams appointed him to, the Court had no authority to order the Secretary of State to deliver the paperwork because the Judiciary Act of 1789, in which Congress gave the Supreme Court original jurisdiction over such matters, was unconstitutional because it awarded the Court powers not specifically prescribed in the Constitution. This decision established the Supreme Court's right of judicial reviewover legislation.
Marbury never got his commission.
Case Citation:
Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803)
For more information see Related Questions, below.
William Marbury
William Marbury and James Madison. They were fighting over whether or not Marbury and other federalists, appointed by John Adams, would receive their commissions.
In Marbury v Madison, 5 US 137 (1803), William Marbury tried to get James Madison to deliver his commission. James Madison, who later became a US President, was Secretary of State under President Thomas Jefferson at the time.
The exact date and cause of death for William Maybury is not known. He was a successful businessman and one of the midnight judges.
No. In the opinion of the Court, Marshall declared Marbury was entitled to his commission, but that the Supreme Court didn't have original jurisdiction to issue the writ of mandamus Marbury requested. Marshall explicitly stated Marbury would have to refile his case in a lower court first, then appeal to the Supreme Court if he failed to get relief at that level. Marbury never refiled his case.Case Citation:Marbury v. Madison, 5 US 137 (1803)For more information, see Related Questions, below.
William Marbury's father was also named William Marbury; his mother's name was Martha.
William Marbury was born November 7, 1762, in Piscataway, Maryland.
William Marbury Carpenter was born on 1811-06-25.
William Marbury Carpenter died on 1848-10-04.
William Marbury
Yes.
Willium marbury
The position William Marbury wanted was Justice of Peace.
William Marbury was born on November 7, 1762 and died March 13, 1835. 1835 is the same year John Marshall died.
William Marbury and James Madison. They were fighting over whether or not Marbury and other federalists, appointed by John Adams, would receive their commissions.
William Marbury
In Marbury v Madison, 5 US 137 (1803), William Marbury tried to get James Madison to deliver his commission. James Madison, who later became a US President, was Secretary of State under President Thomas Jefferson at the time.