Robert Wash
Robert Wash | |
|---|---|
| Missouri Supreme Court Justice | |
| In office 1825–1837 | |
| Preceded by | Rufus Pettibone |
| Succeeded by | John Cummins Edwards |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 29, 1790 Louisa County, Virginia, US |
| Died | November 30, 1856 (aged 66) St. Louis, Missouri, US |
| Resting place | Bellefontaine Cemetery |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Christy Berry Eliza Catherine Lewis Taylor (1837–1856) |
Robert Wash (November 29, 1790 – November 30, 1856) served on the Supreme Court of Missouri from September 1825 to May 1837. During his term, the pro-slavery judge, who owned slaves himself, wrote the dissenting opinion on several important freedom suits, including Milly v. Smith, Julia v. McKinney and Marguerite v. Chouteau. However, he did join in the unanimous finding for the plaintiff in the landmark Rachel v. Walker case.
Judge Wash's decision to split up a family of slaves he owned was the impetus for Polly Wash's freedom suit and her daughter Lucy's memoir.