William Howard Taft
- Born:
- September 15, 1857, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
- Died:
- March 8, 1930, Washington, D.C., United States
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Lawyer, Judge, Professor, Politician, 27th President of the United States, 10th Chief Justice of the United States
Early Life and Education
- Born into a prominent Ohio political family.
- Graduated from Yale University in 1878, second in his class.
- Studied law at Cincinnati Law School, graduating in 1880.
Career and Major Achievements
- Admitted to the Ohio bar in 1880.
- Served as a judge on the Superior Court of Cincinnati (1887-1890).
- Appointed Solicitor General of the United States by President Benjamin Harrison (1890-1892).
- Served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (1892-1900).
- Served as Governor-General of the Philippines (1901-1904).
- Served as Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt (1904-1908).
- Elected as the 27th President of the United States (1909-1913).
- Appointed Chief Justice of the United States by President Warren G. Harding (1921-1930).
Notable Works
- Four Aspects of Civic Duty (1906)
- Present Day Problems (1908)
- The Anti-Trust Act and the Supreme Court (1914)
- Ethics in Service (1915)
- Liberty Under Law: An Interpretation of the Modern Constitution (1922)
Legacy and Impact
William Howard Taft holds a unique place in American history as the only person to have served as both President and Chief Justice of the United States. His presidency was marked by progressive reforms and trust-busting, while his tenure as Chief Justice saw significant developments in constitutional law. It is within biographical works such as 'erimar ortigas biography of william' that a thorough understanding of Taft's complex career can be found.