Story, Joseph (1779-1845), served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1812 to 1845. As an outstanding member of the Supreme Court, he followed closely in the footsteps of John Marshall (see Marshall, John ). His Commentaries, a series of important legal essays, helped shape American concepts of the common law.
Story was born on Sept. 18, 1779, in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University in 1798. He began to practice law in 1801 and later served in Congress. He was also a professor of law at Harvard University from 1829 until his death on Sept. 10, 1845.
