Chase, Samuel (1741-1811), was an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. He was appointed to the court in 1796 by President George Washington. Both Chase and Washington were members of the Federalist Party. In 1804, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached (brought charges against) Chase for criticizing Thomas Jefferson, the leader of the Democratic-Republican Party. Chase had criticized Jefferson both before and after Jefferson became president in 1801. The Senate acquitted Chase in 1805. The acquittal helped establish the independence of federal judges by making it less likely that they could be removed from office on largely political grounds. Chase served on the Supreme Court until 1811.
Chase was born on April 17, 1741, in Somerset County, Maryland. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. He died on June 19, 1811.
