William Marbury

William Marbury was a Federalist politician and businessman whose name is most famously associated with the landmark Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison. In 1801, just before Thomas Jefferson took office, Marbury was appointed as a justice of the peace by outgoing President John Adams. However, when Jefferson assumed the presidency, his Secretary of State, James Madison, refused to deliver Marbury's commission. This led Marbury to petition the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus to compel Madison to act. The case ultimately resulted in a historic ruling that established the principle of judicial review, solidifying the role of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution.