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Philip Barton Key

Former judge · U.S. Circuit Court for the Fourth Circuit

Philip Barton Key served on the U.S. Circuit Court for the Fourth Circuit. Appointed by John Adams and confirmed Feb 26, 1801 by a 20–9 Senate vote.

Appointed by
John Adams
Confirmed
Feb 26, 1801
Senate vote
20–9
Born
1757

Appointments

  • Judge, U.S. Circuit Court for the Fourth CircuitJohn Adams · Feb 20, 1801 – Mar 3, 1801
  • Chief Judge, U.S. Circuit Court for the Fourth CircuitJohn Adams · Feb 26, 1801 – Jul 1, 1802

Education

  • Middle Temple, London, England1784
  • Read law1785

Career

Fought with the British Army in the Revolutionary War, 1777-1781; Private practice, Leonardtown, Maryland, 1787-1790; Private practice, Annapolis, Maryland, 1790-1794, 1799-1800; State delegate, Maryland, 1794-1799; Private practice, Montgomery County, Maryland, 1802-1807; Counsel, Hon. Samuel Chase, Supreme Court of the United States, during Senate impeachment trial, 1805; U.S. representative from Maryland, 1807-1813; Private practice, Georgetown, D.C., 1813-1815

More

From the Federal Judicial Center’s biographical directory of federal judges.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “Judge Philip Barton Key, Circuit Court for the Fourth Circuit,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/judge/j1383296/philip-barton-key (accessed 2026-10-14).