Marcus Perrin Knowlton

American judge

Marcus Perrin Knowlton (February 3, 1839 – May 7, 1918) was an American politician and jurist who served as chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Biography

Marcus Perrin Knowlton was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, to Merrick and Fatima Knowlton.^[1] He graduated from Yale University in 1860 and was admitted to the bar in 1862 in Hampden County, where he made his residence in Springfield. He was elected to the City Council, and also represented Springfield in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as well as the Massachusetts Senate.^[1]

In 1881, he was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court. His career there was successful enough to earn him a spot on the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 1887. Following the appointment of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. to the United States Supreme Court in 1902, Knowlton took over as Chief Justice, and he held that position until he retired in 1911 due to failing eyesight.

He died at his home in Springfield on May 7, 1918.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b Bacon, Edwin M., ed. (1896). Men of Progress: One Thousand Biographical Sketches and Portraits of Leaders in Business and Professional Life in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Boston: The New England Magazine. p. 318. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Internet Archive.
^ "Ex-Chief Justice Knowlton Dead". The Boston Globe. Springfield. May 8, 1918. p. 9. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

"Memorial for Marcus Perrin Knowlton". Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. March 22, 1919. Retrieved July 26, 2011.

Legal offices
Preceded by William Gardner	Associate Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court 1887-1902	Succeeded by Henry Braley
Preceded by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.	Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court December 8, 1902–September 7, 1911	Succeeded by Arthur Prentice Rugg