General counsel of the Illinois Central Railroad company, and litigated the famous "Lake Front" case in the United States Supreme Court, involving some $75,000,000-more money than has ever before or since engaged the attention of that tribunal in a single case. Born at Palmyra, Maine, October 8, 1827. Spent his youth till eighteen upon his father's farm, at which age he entered Bowdoin College, graduating five years later with high honors. He taught for two years in the academy at North Yarmouth, Maine, devoting a portion of his time to the study of law; moved to Madison, Wisconsin; completed his law studies in the office of Collins and Smith, and was admitted in 1853. He moved to Galena, Illinois, where he practiced for three years, when he moved to Chicago, 1856, and formed a partnership with Scales and McAllister, which was dissolved nine years later. His practice steadily increased, until he now enjoys one of the largest incomes from his practice of any lawyer in the West.

He is a Republican in politics, and was elected, upon the adoption of the new constitution in 1876, to the Illinois Senate. In his legislative capacity he earned an enviable reputation for honesty, highmindedness and rare ability. It is as a practitioner, however, that he is best known and most conspicuous, having been engaged in some of the most important litigations in this country. In the trial of a case he is clear, keen and positive-having his resources always within command. As a speaker, forcible and attractive, with the faculty of getting at the gist of the matter in hand, and with powers of analysis of a high order. In writing and conversation, he is terse, pungent and sarcastic. In disposition, inclined to be selfish and unconcerned as to the opinions of others. In manner, dignified and imperial. As an office lawyer, he is painstaking and industrious. As a man, he is rigidly honest, outspoken, and reserved.

REVERDY JOHNSON, MARYLAND.

(1796-1876.)

"At his death was without a peer at the American bar," says Eugene L. Didier. Born in Annapolis, Maryland, May 21, 1796; died there February 10, 1876, aged eighty-nine. Educated at St. John's college, the preparatory department of which he entered at six years of age, and began the study of law at seventeen with his father, the Chancellor of the State. Admitted at nineteen, removed to Baltimore, 1817. When twenty-five he was elected to the Maryland Senate, where he greatly distinguished himself; United States Senator, 1845-49; Attorney General of the United States under President Taylor. On President Fillmore's accession he resumed practice, and for twenty-five years was engaged in celebrated causes all over the country. In 1854, in behalf of some English claimant, he argued an important case before an Anglo-American commission, spending some months in London, where he was treated by the bar with great distinction. During the war, he supported the National administration, and at its close

favored the readmission of the Southern

States. While a United States Senator, was appointed an umpire to adjust questions which had arisen out of the war, at New Orleans. In 1868 he succeeded Charles Francis Adams as Minister to England, and negotiated the "Johnson-Clarendon" treaty for the settlement of the Alabama claims. It embraced all that was ever obtained, but it was made a party question and rejected by the Senate. His recall in 1869 by President Grant was a party necessity. After his return he resumed his practice.

He was a man of the most outspoken candor and -honesty, peculiarly winning in his character. His legal capacity and knowledge were great, and more arguments made by him will be found in the United States reports than of any other advocate in the country. In the domain of Constitutional law no one outranked him. At the trial board he displayed inflexible nerve, where his opponent had suddenly intruded an unlooked for crisis; a wonderful memory,

a glorious voice, a humorous turn, and a great command of sarcasm.

Encounter With Henry Winter Davis.

Johnson once twitted Henry Winter Davis in a trial with feebleness of memory. "Yes, Mr. Johnson," replied Davis, "but you will please remember that, unlike the lion in the play, I have something more to do than roar,” in allusion to Johnson's glorious voice, with which he sometimes blew down juries.

Extremely Homely.

Johnson's wife, being asked by a stranger how he could distinquish Johnson if he should run across him, answered: "When you see the homeliest man in the crowd, that is my husband."

Wonderful Memory Encounter With Judge Curtis.

One time, in reply to Judge Benjamin R. Curtis, in the United States District Court for Maryland, he cited, without hesitation, volume after volume, page after page, giving number and text, from memory alone, in all comprising over twenty cases. Some of the cases to which he referred, Mr. Johnson afterward said, he had not seen for twenty-five years.-Scott's Distinguished American Lawyers, p. 490.

Defense of Taney.

"Reverdy Johnson, in replying to the statement of Charles Sumner in 1865, in the United States Senate, that Taney would be hooted down the pages of history, and that an emancipated country would fix upon his name the stigma it deserved, that he had adminis