Salmon P. Chase was an American politician and lawyer who served as the sixth Chief Justice of the United States from 1864 to 1873. Born on January 13, 1808, in New Hampshire, he became a prominent figure in the Republican Party and was a strong opponent of slavery. Chase also held the position of Secretary of the Treasury under President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, where he played a crucial role in financing the Union war effort. Chase was known for his legal expertise and commitment to civil rights. He was instrumental in the establishment of the National Banking System and the issuance of the first greenbacks, or paper currency, in the United States. After his tenure as Chief Justice, he continued to influence American law and politics until his death on May 7, 1873.