Watertown in Middlesex County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)
Benjamin Robbins Curtis
Photographed by Marc Posner, July 14, 2024
1. Benjamin Robbins Curtis Marker
Across the way was the birthplace of Benjamin Robbins Curtis. 1809-1874. Son of a New England shipmaster and a Watertown mother, he was a strong influence in protecting American ideas of constitutional government in times of intense political excitement.
His power of clear statement made him the leading lawyer of his time. As a Judge in the Supreme Court of the United States, in 1857, he wrote the famous dissenting opinion on the Dred Scott Case - a great factor in clearing Northern sentiment on the slavery issue.
By his argument as Senior Council for President Johnson in the impeachment proceedings before the Senate in 1868, he defeated the impeachment and steadied the government of the United States.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 42° 21.896′ N, 71° 11.068′ W. Marker is in Watertown, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. It is at the intersection of Charles River Road and Galen Street, on the left when traveling north on Charles River Road. Located in Watertown Square next to the Watertown Veterans Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Watertown MA 02472, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Boston. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker:
this page online
Also see . . . Benjamin Robbins Curtis (Wikipedia). (Submitted on August 12, 2024, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed by Marc Posner, July 14, 2024
2. Benjamin Robbins Curtis Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2024, by Marc Posner of Somerville, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 171 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 8, 2024, by Marc Posner of Somerville, Massachusetts. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.
