the Court since 1806, was appointed to the first place on the Bench. John Buchanan was born in Prince George's County, Md., in 1772. He was the second son of Thomas and Ann Buchanan. His father was an Englishman, a younger brother of Sir Fran cis James Buchanan, a colonel of his Maj esty's Royal Artillery; his mother was the beautiful Miss Cook, sister of the affianced wife of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Both of John Buchanan's parents died when he was quite young, and he was sent to Char lotte Hall Academy in Charles County, Md. After receiving the rudiments of his educa tion at this school, he was while still a youth placed in the law office of Judge White at Winchester, Va. From Winchester, he was soon transferred to Washington County, Md., where he continued his legal studies under the care of John Thomson Mason, a famous Maryland lawyer of that time. After pass ing the Bar, he entered at once upon a suc cessful practice. He married Sophia Wil liams, daughter of Col. Elie Williams and niece of Gen. Otho Williams, one of the Maryland heroes of the Revolution. They were married at Springfield, Washington Co., on the 4th of October, 1808. Their resi dence was Oakland, eight miles from Hagerstown, in the same county. Judge Buchanan sat on the bench of the Court of Appeals for thirty-eight years, during twenty of which he was its Chief Judge. His legal learning, his high charac ter, his profound reading as well as his singularly attractive manners and elegant accomplishments, won the admiration and respect of such eminent men as William Pinkney, Luther Martin, Roger B. Taney, Reverdy Johnson, William Wirt, and others who were his contemporaries, and knew him both in his professional and private life. In 1837, Judge Buchanan was appointed a commissioner on the part of Maryland, to negotiate a loan in London for the building of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Aided by George Peabody, and other prominent
financiers, ample funds were obtained, and the completion of Maryland's splendid work of internal improvement secured. During this visit, Judge Buchanan was warmly en tertained by the celebrated " American Graces," the Misses Caton, the three grand daughters of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who were known in the British peerage as the Duchess of Leeds, the Marchioness of Wellesley, and the Baroness Stafford. By these ladies. Judge Buchanan was introduced into the highest circles of English society, including the Duke of Wellington, Sir Rob ert Peel, Lord Palmerston, Lord Melbourne, Lady Byron, Lord Lansdowne, Lord Aber deen, and the brilliant coterie of Holland House. One evening, an amusing incident occurred during an entertainment at the Marquess of Hertford's. It was a grand musicale at which some of the musical celeb rities of the day were present, including Rubini, La Bache, Jamburini, and others. Among the guests was the Duke of Welling ton. At a late hour, when the feast was at its height, Judge Buchanan — surrounded by admiring friends, all " feasting and mak ing merry," — was suddenly startled by hear ing a familiar voice bawjing out : — "Lord Chief Justice Buchanan's carriage stops the way! " There was silence — but only for a moment — when, with his charac teristic grace and urbanity, he offered an explanation, and withdrew. This contre temps was caused by Judge Buchanan's valet, who admired his master excessively. Upon being reprimanded for this offense, he replied : " Sir, I was proud to announce you as such — your position is as high as any of theirs." During this visit to England, Judge Buchanan was entertained at Holkholm, the seat of the Earl of Leicester; also, by the then reigning prince of the ancient house of Este. From a letter written by Judge Bu chanan, during his residence, in England, I quote the following: "I dined yesterday with the Duke of Sussex, brother to the
