DUVALL, GABRIEL

born Dec. 6, 1752, Marietta, near Buena Vista, Md. died March 6, 1844, Prince George's county, Md., U.S. associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (181135). By the time that Duvall was admitted to the bar at the age of 26 he had already served for three years as clerk of the Maryland convention. He continued to serve in similar posts and, after its formation, in the state government. Duvall was elected to Congress in 1794. In 1796 he was named to the Maryland Supreme Court and in 1802 was named by President Thomas Jefferson to be the first comptroller of the U.S. Treasury. He was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1811 by President James Madison. Being the colleague of Chief Justice John Marshall and Justice Joseph Story, Duvall wrote relatively few opinions. He is best remembered for his support of the rights of slaves in Mima Queen and Child v. Hepburn and Le Grand v. Darnall. Despite deafness and failing health, he kept his seat for a number of years to prevent the appointment of a political figure to the court. He resigned in 1835 after being informed that his replacement would be Roger B. Taney.