Two Influential Men

Our family has two ancestors that both played an important part in history. I decided to tell you all about them somewhat briefly.

Samuel Chase

Samuel Chase was born in 1741 in Maryland. He was the son of an Episcopal clergyman. His mother had died during his birth. He later became a self-taught Lawyer and attended the Continental Congress. At age 35, he signed the Declaration of Independence and on January 27, 1796, George Washington commissioned Samuel as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S.A. He later died of severe gout after celebrating his 70th birthday.

Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster was born in 1782 in New Hampshire. After apprenticeship he became a lawyer in 1807. He won many cases. Unfortunately he compromised his beliefs and started supporting slavery during the Civil War. He tried several times to become the Whigs nominee for President but was beaten by Zachary Taylor and later Winfield Scott. In 1841 President Benjamin Harrison appointed Daniel as Secretary of State. He died in 1852 after falling off his horse and hitting his head really hard and his brain hemorrhaged.

I think it's really neat when we read about our ancestors in History books and learning from their mistakes and success and how God worked through them hundreds of years ago.

I would love to know your who your ancestors are. Feel free to comment and tell me about them. :)

Monday, August 3, 2009