Engraved portrait of Samuel Chase. "Engraved from a Drawing by J. B. Longacre after a Painting by Jarvis."

Samuel Chase was one of four signers of the Declaration of Independence from Maryland. Before the Revolution, Chase was a lawyer and member of the legislature. He was elected to the first Continental Congress and voted for independence in July, 1776. He voted against the Constitution during Maryland's ratifying convention. His legal career culminated in an appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court where his decisions helped lay the foundation for judicial review. He was impeached by Congress for his handling of trials involving sedition and treason. Acquitted by the Senate, Chase remained on the court until his death in 1811.