Forgotten Founder

Luther Martin was one of the most vocal and controversial figures of America’s founding—a brilliant but cantankerous lawyer who fought tooth and nail against the Constitution’s centralization of power. A fierce defender of state sovereignty, he clashed with giants like Madison and Hamilton, delivering fiery speeches that shaped the ratification debate. Though history often overlooks him, Martin’s legacy as an Anti-Federalist, legal powerhouse, and defender of the accused deserves a closer look. This is his story.