Joseph L. Story (1779-1845) was a Supreme Court Justice who authored several significant opinions for the court as well as an influential commentary on the U.S. Constitution. Story was born in Massachusetts, where a few years earlier his father had taken part in the Boston Tea Party. After graduating college and studying law, Story worked as a lawyer and served several terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. In 1811, James Madison nominated him to the Supreme Court. As a justice, he wrote many of the court’s foundational opinions, such as Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee, which established the supremacy of the United States Supreme Court over state courts when interpreting federal law. Story retired from the court in 1829, whereafter he became a law professor. In addition to his teaching, Story wrote a three-volume set of Commentaries on the Constitution. These commentaries, which argued for the unity of the nation and against state sovereignty, were extremely influential for future judges, lawyers, and scholars.