John Catron - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

John Catron serve with General Anrew Jackson during the War of 1812 and was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in 1815. He served on the Tennessee Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals from 1824 until 1834, being elevated to Chief Justice of that court in 1831. On his last full day as President, Andrew Jackson nominated him to a seat on the United States Supreme Court. He was confirmed by the Senate and served as an Associate Justice for the next 28-years. John Catron was still serving on the court when he died on May 30, 1865. His body was returned to Nashville and he is buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Source/Creit: A Walking Tour of Mt. Olivet Cemetery Booklet by W. Ridley Wills.

Description: Very little is known about John Catron’s early life. It is believe that he was born in Pennsylavania on January 7, 1786. During his early years he moved first to Virginia and then to Kentucky, where he marrie Mary Childress. They then moved to Tennessee where he served with General Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. After the war he practiced law in Tennessee with little or no formal training. In 1824 Catron was a member of the Tennessee Court of Errors and Appeals, which was then Tennessee’s highest court. He was elevated to Chief Justice in 1831, and held the position until the Tennessee Legislature abolished the court in 1834. On March 3, 1837, Presient Andrew Jackson nominated Catron to the United States Suprem Court. He was confirmed by the Senate 5-days later. As a southerner, Justice Catron supported the institution of slavery and joined the majority opinion in the Dred Scott Case. But Justice Catron opposed secession, and urge Tennessee to remain in the Union. It is believed that John Catron was born in Pennsylvania on January 7, 1786. He was raised in Virginia and Kentucky, and at 21 married Mary Childress. Catron then moved to Tennessee and fought under the command of Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. After the end of the war, Catron began practicing law in Tennessee (his formal training in law was slight at best). By 1824, Catron was a member of Tennessee's Court of Errors and Appeals, its highest court. He became its Chief Justice in 1831. The Court was eliminated by the Tennessee legislature in 1834, and Catron practiced law for two years. Along with William Smith, whose nomination was not confirmed by the Senate, Andrew Jackson nominated Catron to the Supreme Court on March 3, 1837, Jackson's last full day as President. Catron was a member of the Court for 28 years until his death on May 30, 1865, less than two months after the end of the Civil War. A southerner, Catron supported the institution of slavery, and joined the majority's opinion in Dred Scott v. Sandford. He opposed secession, and urged Tennessee to remain part the Union. That decision ultimately forced him to leave the state and take up permanent residence in Washington, DC, after the state seceded. Justice Catron served for 28-years as an associate justice. He was still serving on the high courts bench when he died on May 30, 1865. His body was returned to Nashville where he was buried in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Date of birth: 01/07/1786 Date of death: 05/30/1865 Area of notoriety: Politics Marker Type: Tomb (above ground) Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily - During Daylight Hours Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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