Samuel S. Marshall


Samuel Scott Marshall was an American politician and attorney who served a total of seven terms as a U.S. representative from Illinois. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

Born near Shawneetown, Illinois, Marshall attended public and private schools in McLeansboro, Illinois, and Cumberland College in Kentucky. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1845, and commenced practice in McLeansboro.

Political career

Marshall served as member of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1846 and 1847. He then served as State's Attorney for the third judicial circuit of Illinois in 1847 and 1848, and as an Illinois circuit court judge from 1851 until 1854.

First tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives (1855–1859)

Marshall was elected as a Democrat to the 34th and 35th United States Congresses, serving consecutively from 1855 to 1859. He served as chairman of the Committee on Claims during the 35th Congress.

1861 U.S. Senate candidacy

He was the candidate of his party for United States Senator in 1861, but lost to incumbent Republican Lyman Trumbull, with Trumbull receiving 54 votes in the Illinois House of Representatives to Marshall's 46 votes on January 9, 1861.
Marshall again served as an Illinois Circuit Court judge from 1861 until 1864. He served as a delegate to 1860 and 1864 Democratic National Conventions.

Second tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives (1865–1875)

Marshall was elected to the 39th United States Congress and to the four following Congresses, and was the candidate of his party for Speaker of the House in 1867. He represented for four terms and, after redistricting, represented the for his final term. Marshall was a delegate to the 1866 National Union Convention.
During the 40th Congress, Marshall served on the House Committee on the Judiciary, which was conducting the first impeachment inquiry against President Andrew Johnson. On November 25, 1867, the committee voted 5–4 to recommend impeachment. Hinds was on the minority side opposing impeachment, along with the one other Democrat on the committee and two Republicans. On December 7, 1867, Marshall was joined by 108 other congressmen, Speaker Shuyler Colfax initially appointed Marshall to act as a teller to tally the vote. However, Marshall requested to be excused from this role, and he, along with the rest of the Democrats, ultimately abstained from voting on impeachment managers.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874 to the 44th Congress.

Later career

Marshall served as president of the board of managers of Hamilton College from 1875 through 1880. He again served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1880.

Death

He died in McLeansboro, Illinois, on July 26, 1890. He was interred in Odd Fellows Cemetery.