William Henry Moody (1853–1917) was an American politician and jurist, serving in all three branches of the U.S. government as a U.S. Representative, Secretary of the Navy, Attorney General, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
Born in Newbury, Massachusetts, he studied at Harvard University (B.A., 1876) and trained in law under Richard Henry Dana Jr., gaining admission to the Massachusetts bar (1878.) He became Haverhill city solicitor (1888) and later District Attorney for Eastern Massachusetts (1890–95,) earning recognition as a junior prosecutor in the Lizzie Borden murder trial (1893.)
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives (1895–1902,) he advocated naval expansion. Appointed Secretary of the Navy (1902–04) by President Theodore Roosevelt, he oversaw modernization efforts. As Attorney General (1904–06,) he pursued antitrust cases, including actions against Standard Oil.
In 1906, Roosevelt nominated Moody to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he served until 1910, resigning due to health issues. His judicial opinions reflected progressive views, opposing racial segregation and supporting civil rights.
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The very air in which you live is an inspiration.
—William Henry Moody
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