The Court of Appeals of Kentucky. NINIAN EDWARDS.
The soil of Kentucky has always been prolific ground for statesmen, as abundantly attested by the numerous governors, senators and prominent public men she has given to other States. Like his predecessor, Chief Justice Grundy, the history of Ninian Edwards belongs mainly to another State. He was born in Maryland
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in 1775, and came to Kentucky in 1794, to take charge of his father's estate in Nel son county. In his early life he had the then unusual misfor tune of wealth, which induced in him a life of dissipation and extravagance. His strong native force of will enabled him, how ever, to break off from his evil associations and habits, and from the age of twenty-two his rise in the public life of the new com monwealth was rapid. On December 1 3, 1806, he was commis sioned associate jus tice of the Kentucky Court of Appeals. He was then thirty-one ROBERT years of age. Upon the resignation of Chief Justice Grundy, Judge Edwards was, on January 5, 1808, appointed to succeed him. He continued to preside over the court until May, 1809, when he resigned to become the first gov ernor of the Territory of Illinois by appoint ment of President Madison. His services to his country, and to the State of Illinois, render him conspicuous for statesmanship and foresight.
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The subject ROBERT of this TRIMBLE. sketch was born in 1776, in Berkeley county, Virginia, now West Virginia. In 1779, his father removed with his family to Kentucky, where the future jurist grew to manhood among the hardy pioneers of that region. His educa tional advantages were of necessity very limited, but he made the best possible use of such opportunities as were afforded him. Even at that early day the bar of Ken tucky had attracted to its ranks much of the best native talent of the country, and Robert Trimble was fired with an ambition to succeed at the law. He took up the study of the profes sion under two of the most distinguished lawyers of the State, and in 1803 he was admitted to practice. Four years later he was appointed a judge of the Court of Ap peals, receiving his commission on April 13, 1807. This posi tion he resigned in March, 1809, because TRIMBLE. judge was not adequate the to meager the needs salaryofofhisa family. For the same reason he declined in in 1810 appointment as chief justice of the court. He had a great aversion to purely politi cal office, and twice declined election to the United States senate. In 1813, he was made United States dis trict attorney for the district of Kentucky, and in 1816, President Madison appointed
