Benjamin C. Howard
Benjamin C. Howard was a prominent American figure, born as the son of a U.S. representative from Maryland. He graduated from Princeton College in 1809, initially pursuing classical studies before transitioning to law, where he was admitted to the Maryland bar and practiced in Baltimore. Throughout the War of 1812, Howard distinguished himself by commanding the Fifth Regiment and attaining the rank of brigadier general. His political career began as a member of the Jacksonian party, serving in the U.S. Congress across two terms from 1829 to 1833 and again from 1835 to 1839, during which time he was involved in significant legislative matters. In 1835, he was appointed by President Andrew Jackson to mediate a dispute over the boundary between Ohio and Michigan. Additionally, from 1843 to 1862, he served as the reporter of decisions for the Supreme Court, where he was responsible for editing and reporting several landmark cases, including Scott v. Sanford and Ableman v. Booth. Howard's contributions to both military service and legislative affairs mark him as a significant historical figure in early American governance and law.
Subject Terms
Benjamin C. Howard
Significance: Howard edited and reported the decisions of the Supreme Court from 1843 to 1861. He was elected as a U.S. representative from Maryland on four different occasions.
Howard was the son of a U.S. representative from Maryland. Howard pursued a degree in classical studies and graduated from Princeton College in 1809. Later he studied law, was admitted to the bar in Maryland, and practiced in Baltimore. During the War of 1812, Howard served valiantly, taking command of the Fifth Regiment and earning the rank of brigadier general. Howard was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses as a representative from Maryland (1829-1833). In 1835 he was commissioned by President Andrew Jackson to act as a peace emissary for the federal government in the controversy over the boundary line between Ohio and Michigan.
Howard was again elected as a representative from Maryland and served during the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Congresses (1835-1839). From 1843 to 1862 Howard served as the reporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court. Generally well liked by the members of the Court, he edited and reported many important decisions, including Jones v. Van Zandt (1847), the License Cases (1847), Luther v. Borden (1849), the Passenger Cases (1849), Scott v. Sanford (1857), and Ableman v. Booth (1859).