Howard Taft

William Howard Taft (27th President of the United States)

Born: 1857, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Family background: the son of Alphonso and Louisa Torrey Taft. Both parents were descendants of old and substantial New England families of British origin. His father, a native of Vermont and the son of a judge, had moved to Cincinnati in 1837 to practice law. His mother came to Ohio from Massachusetts years later as Alphonso's second wife. In time there were six children, including William, his two brothers, his sister, and his two half brothers by his father's first marriage.

Education: Taft received his early education at local public schools. Even-tempered and intelligent, he had little difficulty in meeting his parents' exacting standards. In 1874 he entered Yale College (now Yale University), where he was both successful and popular. When he graduated in 1878, he ranked second in his class. After Yale he went home to attend the Cincinnati Law School. He graduated in 1880 and passed the Ohio bar examinations the same year.

Marriage and Children: In 1885 Taft returned to public service as assistant county solicitor in Hamilton County. The following year he married Helen Herron, whom he called Nellie, the daughter of a well-known Cincinnati lawyer. The couple had three children, Helen, Charles Phelps, and Robert Alphonso Taft.

Career: 1890-1892: Served as U.S. solicitor general.

1892-1900: Served as U.S. federal circuit court judge.

1901: Served as governor general of the Philippines.

1904-1908: Served as secretary of war under William Mckinley.

1909-1913: President of the United States.

1921-1931: Served as chief justice of