Oliver Wendell (Jr) Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841-1935) was a renowned Supreme Court justice known for his advocacy of judicial restraint and defense of free speech.

Jurist

March 8, 1841

Pisces

March 06, 1935

93

Boston, Massachusetts

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841-1935) was a prominent American jurist and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, serving from 1902 to 1932. Widely known as “The Great Dissenter,” Holmes gained recognition for his opinions on free speech and due process rights. Some of his most notable works include his dissents in Abrams v. United States and Lochner v. New York, as well as his majority opinion in Northern Securities Co. v. United States. Besides his legal career, Holmes was a published poet and essayist, authoring works such as “The Chambered Nautilus” and “Old Ironsides.” As a Civil War veteran, he was a key figure in Boston’s intellectual and literary circles, associating with prominent families and influential transcendentalists. Holmes also maintained a friendship with artist John Singer Sargent, who painted a portrait of him in 1903, which is now displayed in the Harvard Law School’s library.