Background
Martin, Luther was born on February 9, 1744 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. Son of Benjamin and Hannah Martin.
state official Continental congressman
Martin, Luther was born on February 9, 1744 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States. Son of Benjamin and Hannah Martin.
Graduated from College of New Jersey (now Princeton), 1766.
Taught school, Queenstown, Maryland., 1766-1769. Moved to Somerset County, Maryland., studied law, 1769. Superintendent grammar school, Onancock, Virginia, 1770.
Admitted to Virginia bar, 1771.
Member Annapolis Convention which drafted protests Maryland to British, 1774. Published To the Inhabitants of the Peninsula between the Delaware River and the Chesapeake to the Southward of the British Lincolnshire reply to appeal by Lord William Howe, 1777.
1st attorney general Maryland., 1778-1805. Member Continental Congress from Maryland., 1785.
Member United States Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, 1787, opposed strong central government.
Member Maryland. Convention which ratified United States Constitution, 1788. Wrote and published letters in Baltimore newspapers defending Captain Michael Cresap (his father-in-law) charged with murdering family of an Indian chief, 1797-1798.
Wrote pamphlet Modern Gratitude (includes autobiog. sketch of his early life), 1802.
Federalist counsel for Judge Samuel Chase in his impeachment trial, 1804. A counsel in treason trial of Aaron Burr, 1807. Chief justice Court Oyer and Termines for City and County of Baltimore, 1813-1816.
Attorney general Maryland., 1818-1822, involved in case of McCulloch versus State Maryland, 1819, favored states rights but Chief Justice John Marshall declared taxing a United States Bank unconstl.
Suffered paralytic stroke 1820. Maryland. Legislature passed act requiring every lawyer of state to pay annual license tax of $5.00 to be turned over to trustees for Martin’s use, 1821, repealed, 1823.
Spent rest of life in home of Aaron Burr, New York City.
Member Annapolis Convention which drafted protests Maryland to British, 1774. Member Continental Congress from Maryland., 1785. Member United States Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia, 1787, opposed strong central government.
Member Maryland.
Convention which ratified United States Constitution, 1788.
Married Maria Cresap, December 25, 1783. Children: Maria, Eleanora.