Biography

Born in Pennsylvania, but little is known about his early years. His family appears to have also spent time in both Virginia and Kentucky, and there are no records of his schools. He moved to the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee in 1812 and served in the War of 1812 under Andrew Jackson. He was admitted to the Tennessee bar in 1815 and moved to Nashville in 1818. He established a practice specializing in land law. He was elected to the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals in 1824. In 1831 he was elected to the newly created office of Chief Justice of the Court, which was then abolished in 1834 after reorganization. He returned to his private practice and became active in national politices. After President Jackson expanded the US Supreme Court from 7 to 9 members, Catron was nominated to fill one of the new seats. The Senate confirmed his appointment in 1837, where he served until 1865.