SAMUEL CHASE

1741-1811

Signer of the Declaration of Independence (Maryland)

Biographical Data
Religious Views
Quotations
References, Links, & Further Reading

Education: private tutoring

Occupation: lawyer, Supreme Court Justice

Political Affiliation: Federalist

Religious Affiliation: Episcopalian

Summary of Religious Views:

Chase's father was an Anglican priest, and Chase was by all accounts deeply religious all his life. He attended services frequently, Contributed substantial amounts of money, and sometimes served as a vestryman and as a representative for his church at diocesan conventions.

Views on Religion & Politics:

Chase was an advocate of public support for religion. In 1784, he introduced a bill in the Mary land legislature to provide tax support for churches (non-Christians would have been exempted from paying the tax), but the bill was ultimately defeated.

Although a slaveholder himself, his religious convictions led Chase to support the abolition of slavery.

Quotations:

"There is no repentance in the grave; for after death comes judgment; and as you die so you must be judged. By repentance and faith, you are the object of God's mercy; but if you will not repent, and have faith and dependance upon the merits of the death of Christ, you die a hardened and impenitent sinner, you will be the object of God's justice and vengeance. You will sincerely repent and believe, God hath pronounced his forgiveness; and there is no crime too great for his mercy and pardon." -- as judge, trial of John Fries, 1800

"God gives life." -- refusing medication, on his deathbed, 19 June 1811

References, Links, & Further Reading: Books, Articles, Links

Books

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Jane Shaffer Elsmere, Justice Samuel Chase, Janevar Publishing, 1980
James Haw, Stormy Patriot: The Life of Samuel Chase, Maryland Historical Society, 1980
William H. Rehnquist, Grand Inquests: The Historic Impeachments of Justice Samuel Chase and President Andrew Johnson, William Morrow, 1992

Articles

Charles L. Goodrich, "Samuel Chase," in Lives of the Signers to the Declaration of Independence, 1856
William H. Wroten, Jr., "Samuel Chase - Freedom's Firebrand," Salisbury Times, March 23, 1959

Links

Works by Samuel Chase

Documents (Constitutional Sources Project)

Biographies

CHASE, Samuel, 1741-1811 (Biographical Directory of the US Congress)
Samuel Chase (ushistory.org: Signers of the Declaration of Independence)
Samuel Chase (The OYEZ Project -- Northwestern University)
Samuel Chase (FindLaw)
Samuel Chase (Signers of the Declaration of Independence -- National Park Service)
Samuel Chase (Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence)