As a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Martin defended state sovereignty and the diffusion of political authority. He also earned a lasting reputation as a trial attorney arguing cases before the Supreme Court.

Martin was born in New Jersey to a family of modest means. He graduated with honors from the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University) in 1766. He spent several years teaching before presenting himself to be examined for admission to the Virginia bar. Martin passed the licensing examination and traveled to the western regions of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, before starting a law practice on Maryland’s eastern shore.

By 1774 Martin had become associated with efforts to declare independence. He was elected to the Committee of Observation in Somerset County and as a delegate to the Provincial Congress in Annapolis. Martin, who had attracted the attention of the revolutionary leaders in Maryland, was also appointed as attorney general of the state in 1778, a post he would hold for twenty-seven years. He briefly fought in the Revolutionary War and continued to practice law. Martin was elected to the Confederation Congress in 1784, but his official responsibilities prevented him from attending.

When the Maryland legislature selected delegates to the Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention, Martin was elected and accepted the appointment. He participated in the Convention from June 9, 1787, until September 4, departing from the gathering in protest with his fellow Maryland Antifederalist, John Francis Mercer. It is generally assumed that Martin was one of the authors of the New Jersey plan that strengthened the authority of Congress, while maintaining the system of representation contained in the Articles of Confederation. Martin’s criticism of the Constitution and his participation in the Convention is frequently misunderstood. He believed that the Articles needed reform and was much more than a thwarter of change. According to Martin, the federal government’s purpose was to protect the states. Moreover, Martin contributed substantially to the development of the constitutional order that would emerge from the Convention, including the introduction of the electoral college. He explained his concerns about the Constitution to the Maryland delegation and to George Washington before departing from Philadelphia.

In 1788 Martin presented his objections to the Maryland legislature and published his comments as The Genuine Information. He supported inclusion of a bill of rights to protect the states and their citizens from the federal government. Elected as a delegate to the Maryland ratification convention in April, 1788, Martin was unable to participate in debate as the result of laryngitis.

After the adoption of the Bill of Rights in 1791, especially the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, Martin was more favorable toward the Constitution. As the result of his disdain for Thomas Jefferson, Martin became more sympathetic to the Federalist cause and was an outspoken critic of the Jefferson presidency. His successful handling of the defense of associate justice Samuel Chase’sChase, Samuel impeachment trial in the Senate (1805) and Aaron Burr’sBurr, Aaron treason trial (1807) won Martin great respect and fame. Martin argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including McCulloch v. Maryland[case]McCulloch v. Maryland[MacCulloch v. Maryland] (1819). In McCulloch, Martin warned against the abuses of implied powers and suggested that a state could tax a federal bank. He lost the case but defended what he believed was a central feature of the Constitution. In August, 1819, Martin suffered a paralyzing stroke that prevented him from speaking. He would live for seven more years, spending his final years in the home of Aaron Burr.

• Bradford, M. E. “Luther Martin.” In Founding Fathers. 2d ed. Lawrence: University of Kansas Press, 1994.
• Clarkson, Paul S., and R. Samuel Jett. Luther Martin of Maryland. Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1970.
• Martin, Luther. “The Genuine Information.” In The Records of the Federal Convention, edited by Max Farrand. Vol. 3. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1966.

Burr, Aaron

Chase, Samuel

Constitutional Convention

Federalism

Impeachment of judges

McCulloch v. Maryland