author
Oliver Wendell Holmes
1841–1935
A Civil War veteran who went on to become one of the most influential justices in U.S. history, he brought a tough, clear-eyed view of law to the Supreme Court. Best known for his sharp opinions and famous dissents, he helped shape modern American legal thought.
2 Audiobooks
The Path of the Law
by Oliver Wendell Holmes
The Common Law
by Oliver Wendell Holmes
About the author
Born in Boston on March 8, 1841, he was the son of writer and physician Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. During the Civil War he served in the Union Army and was seriously wounded more than once, an experience that marked him for life.
After the war, he built a distinguished legal career in Massachusetts as a lawyer, scholar, and judge. His book The Common Law became a landmark in American legal thinking, and in 1902 Theodore Roosevelt appointed him to the U.S. Supreme Court.
He served on the Court until 1932 and became known for concise, memorable opinions and for his strong influence on ideas about judicial restraint and free speech. Often called "the Great Dissenter," he remained a towering figure in American law until his death in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 1935.