| 1833, June 1 | Born in Boyle County, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| 1850 | Graduated from Centre College |
| 1850-1852 | Studied law at Transylvania University |
| 1853 | Admitted to Kentucky Bar |
| 1854-1856 | Served as City Attorney in Frankfort, Kentucky |
| 1856 | Married Malvina French Shanklin |
| 1858-1861 | Served as County Judge in Franklin County, Kentucky |
| 1859 | Defeated as candidate of Opposition Party for seat in U.S. House of Representatives |
| 1861 | Moved to Louisville, Kentucky. Law partnership with William F. Bullock |
| 1861-1863 | Served as Colonel, 10th Kentucky Infantry, Union Army |
| 1863 | Resumed law practice in Frankfort, Kentucky upon death of father |
| 1863-1867 | Served as Attorney General of Kentucky |
| 1864 | Campaigned for General George McClellan, Democratic presidential candidate |
| 1867 | Returned to law practice in Louisville, Kentucky |
| 1871 and 1875 | Defeated as Republican candidate for Governor of Kentucky |
| 1876 | Supported candidacy of law partner Benjamin H. Bristow for Republican nomination for President. Switched support at the Republican convention to Rutherford B. Hayes |
| 1877 | Named to Louisiana Electoral Commission |
| 1877-1911 | Served as Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court |
| 1889-1910 | Taught constitutional law at George Washington University |
| 1892-1893 | Represented the U.S. in Bering Sea arbitration with Great Britain |
| 1911, October 14 | Died in Washington, D.C. |
