William howard taft biography facts

(1857-1930)

Synopsis

William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on September 15, 1857.

William howard taft accomplishments as president

From a prominent political family, he followed his forebears into law and was on track to be a career jurist, well on his way to his dream job of sitting on the Supreme Court, when he was sidetracked for a term as the 27th U.S.

president by his wife and Theodore Roosevelt. Taft finally achieved his dream of being appointed chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1921, becoming the only person to have served both as a chief justice and president.

Taft died in Washington, D.C., on March 8, 1930.

Early Life

William Howard Taft, born on September 15, 1857, in Cincinnati, Ohio, was one of six children of Louisa Maria Torrey and Alphonso Taft. Many Taft ancestors, who could be traced back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, had gone into law, including William's father, Alphonso Taft.

Alphonso Taft had served under President Ulysses S. Grant as both secretary of war a