Reverdy Johnson was an American politician, statesman, and jurist from Annapolis, Maryland. He gained fame as a defense attorney, defending notables such as Sandford of the Dred Scott case, Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter at his courts-martial, and Mary Surratt, conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. A former Whig, he was a strong supporter of the Union war effort. At first he opposed wartime efforts to abolish slavery until 1864, and in 1865 supported the 13th Amendment banning slavery.
- Occupation
- politician, lawyer, diplomat, jurist
- Position held
- United States Attorney General, member of the Maryland House of Delegates, ambassador, United States senator
- Citizenship
- United States
- Born
