About This School

Biography Information

John Marshall was born in a log cabin in Germantown, Virginia on September 24, 1755. The oldest of 15 children he attended school in Westmoreland County, Virginia where he studied math, science, literature, Latin and other languages. One of John Marshall’s classmates at the school became the fifth president of the United States. You probably know the name of that student is James Monroe.

As a young man John Marshall studied law at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia and served as a lieutenant during the American Revolution. In the winter of 1777-1778 he led troops at Valley Forge under George Washington’s command.

A few years after leaving the army he married Mary Willis Ambler; they had 10 children. To support his growing family, John Marshall practiced law in Virginia and entered politics, running for a seat in the Richmond Virginia City Council in 1785. He finished in second place and later served as a representative of Virginia.

Saddened by the death of his friend and former army superior, George Washington, John Marshall spoke at the president’s funeral in 1799 and spent the next five years writing a 3,200 page biography of the nation’s first president.

In 1800 President John Adams appointed John Marshall Secretary of State and the following year President Adams appointed him Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, a position he held for 34 years. During his long tenure as Chief Justice John Marshall oversaw important court cases including the treason trial of Aaron Burr.

A few years after the death of his wife John Marshall was injured in an accident involving a stagecoach. He died on July 6, 1835, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was buried in the Shockoe Hill Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia. He was 79 years old.

School History

When the John Marshall High School opened on West Adams Street between Kedzie and Spalding in March, 1895, the Chicago Tribune called it “one of the handsomest and also one of the best arranged schools in the city.” The three storey building and its furnishings were valued at a whooping $112,900.00. Despite the steep price few last minute purchases were added to the budget: $10 to defray the cost of a graduation ceremony, rubber tips to muffle the scraping noise created by 50 laboratory chairs at cost of fifty-cents each, and a dictionary, cost unknown.

The high school shared the building with an elementary school also named for John Marshall and Principal Mr. Louis J. Block was responsible for both schools. Principal Block retired as Principal in 1926 and the elementary school remained in the building until 1932.

The original high school teaching staff included two full-time German language teachers: Miss Hattie Hartman and Miss Mary A. Enright; and Miss Louise W. Russell, who taught drawing two days per week. Students also studied Latin, English, science and math.

Additions to the school were built three times in the early 20th century to expand capacity to accommodate 3,900 students and again in the 1930s to replace rooms damaged by a fire.

Judge Frank S. Righeimer, author Vincent Starrett and author Studs Terkel are among the famous students of the John Marshall high school.

The John Marshall Metropolitan High School offers a general education curriculum and five Education To Careers programs including allied health, culinary arts, horticulture, business and finance. Before and after school activities included a debate team, an Academic Decathlon team, chess and athletics. Current enrollment is 1,135. Students wear uniforms.

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