John Rutledge (1739-1800) was a South Carolina lawyer and revolutionary statesman. He served in the Continental Congress, helped lead South Carolina during the Revolution, participated prominently in the Constitutional Convention, and became one of Washington's original Supreme Court appointments. He became Chief Justice in 1795 but left the Court after the Senate rejected his nomination, largely in the context of his fierce opposition to Jay's Treaty.

Samuel Chase (1741-1811) was a Maryland lawyer, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Supreme Court justice. His Federalist partisanship made him one of the most controversial judges of the early republic, culminating in his impeachment by the House of Representatives and acquittal by the Senate. He remained on the Court until his death and played an important role in establishing the independence of federal judges from congressional removal based merely on partisanship.

James Wilson (1742-1798) was a Scottish-born American lawyer, political theorist, signer of the Declaration of Independence, principal architect of the Constitution, and one of Washington's original Supreme Court justices. He played a major role at the Constitutional Convention and became one of the earliest American legal theorists to articulate a theory of popular sovereignty and federal constitutional government. He died in 1798 while still serving on the Supreme Court.

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was an American statesman, political philosopher, diplomat, and the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence. He served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809, overseeing the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. A leading advocate of republican government, individual liberty, religious freedom, and public education, Jefferson helped shape the political principles of the early American republic.

Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814) was a Massachusetts revolutionary who signed the Declaration of Independence, served in the Continental Congress and House of Representatives, opposed the Constitution at Philadelphia, and later became governor of Massachusetts. He became James Madison's vice president in 1813. Gerry died in office in 1814, leaving a legacy as a founding and the political term "gerrymandering."

Oliver Ellsworth (1745-1807) was a Connecticut lawyer, delegate to the Constitutional Convention, principal architect of the federal judiciary, senator, diplomat, and third Chief Justice of the United States. As a leading Federalist, he helped draft the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the basic structure of the federal judicial system, before succeeding John Jay as Chief Justice. He resigned in 1800 because of poor health after a relatively short tenure and spent his final years at home in Connecticut.