William Marbury

William Marbury (November 7, 1762[1] – March 13, 1835[2]) was a highly successful American businessman and one of the "Midnight Judges" appointed by United States President John Adams the day before he left office.

In an effort to prevent the incoming party from dismantling his Federalist Party-dominated government, Adams issued 42 judicial appointments, including Marbury's as Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia, on March 3, 1801, the day before he turned his office over to incoming President Thomas Jefferson.

[6] Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall did not offer Marbury a legal remedy.

Marshall's two-pronged decision averred that while the Court did not have the authority to issue the writ Marbury had requested, it did have the authority to review the constitutionality of actions of the federal executive and legislative branches of government, including those of the Adams and Jefferson administrations.

He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C.[9] Marbury's former home in Georgetown is now known as "Forrest-Marbury House" and serves as the Ukrainian Embassy to the United States.