Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was an influential American jurist and Supreme Court Justice, serving from 1902 to 1932. Born on March 8, 1841, in Boston, Massachusetts, he was known for his clear and pragmatic legal reasoning. Holmes played a significant role in shaping modern American law, particularly through his opinions on free speech and civil liberties. Holmes was also a soldier during the American Civil War, where he was wounded at the Battle of Ball's Bluff. After the war, he pursued a career in law, eventually becoming a professor at Harvard Law School. His writings and judicial philosophy continue to impact legal thought today.