12 Questions
Where was Benjamin Robbins Curtis born?
Watertown, Massachusetts
How did Benjamin Robbins Curtis's family support him financially while he attended Harvard?
His mother and brother ran a boardinghouse for students.
What type of law was Benjamin Robbins Curtis most noted for practicing?
Patent law
At what age did Benjamin Robbins Curtis replace Joseph Story as the leader of Harvard Law?
Thirty-six
What did Benjamin Robbins Curtis's mother do to support their family after his father's death?
Started a dry goods business and built a library
Where did Benjamin Robbins Curtis first start working as a lawyer after graduating from Harvard Law?
At his cousin's firm in Boston
What was one of Curtis' notable opinions when he started his term on the Court?
Cooley v. Board of Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia (1852)
Why did Curtis argue in Cooley v. Board of Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia (1852) that states were not allowed to regulate areas of commerce?
If the federal government had already imposed regulations in that area
What legislation did Curtis consistently uphold the constitutionality of, despite finding it abhorrent?
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
What major issue did Curtis dissent from the majority opinion in during the case Dred Scott v. Sandford?
Classification of black people as citizens
What incited a feud between Taney and Curtis after the publication of Curtis' dissenting opinion?
Curtis' publication of his dissenting opinion before the majority decision was published
Why was Curtis particularly disenchanted with the Court around 1855?
Financial struggles to support his family on his salary
Explore the life story of Benjamin Robbins Curtis, focusing on his upbringing, family background, and his notable service on the Supreme Court during a tumultuous period in history.
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