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Melville Weston Fuller

Melville Weston Fuller

Chief Justice of the United States · 1888

Melville Weston Fuller , Chief Justice of the United States. Melville Weston Fuller (February 11, 1833 – July 4, 1910) was an American politician, attorney, and jurist who served as the eighth chief justice of the United States from 1888 until his death in 1910. Staunch conservatism marked his tenure on the Supreme Court, exhibited by his tendency to support unfettered free enterprise and to oppose broad federal power.

Positions

Chief Justice of the United States1888-10-08–1910-07-04

Education

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Bowdoin CollegeA.B., 1853
Bowdoin CollegeA.M., 1856

Career

Private practice, Augusta, Maine, 1855-1856; Editor, Augusta [Maine] Age, 1855-1856; President, Augusta [Maine] Common Council, 1856; City solicitor, Augusta, Maine, 1856; Private practice, Chicago, Illinois, 1856-1888; Delegate, Illinois constitutional convention, 1862; State representative, Illinois, 1863-1865

Biography

Melville Weston Fuller (February 11, 1833 – July 4, 1910) was an American politician, attorney, and jurist who served as the eighth chief justice of the United States from 1888 until his death in 1910. Staunch conservatism marked his tenure on the Supreme Court, exhibited by his tendency to support unfettered free enterprise and to oppose broad federal power.

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

From Senate roll call votes, Wikidata, Wikipedia and Office of Government Ethics records.

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Capitol Receipts, “Melville Weston Fuller : Chief Justice of the United States,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/appointee/j805/melville-weston-fuller (accessed 2026-10-13).