Willard Clock


By Simon Willard (1752-1848)

1837
Size: 42" h.
Catalog No. 54.00002

S-141, Old Supreme Court Chamber


U.S. Senate Collection
Office of Senate Curator

This large wall clock, which hangs over the west mantel of the Old Supreme Court Chamber, was ordered for the courtroom by Roger Brooke Taney one year after he became chief justice in 1836. The clock was made by Simon Willard, a Boston clockmaker, who personally travelled to Washington to install the clock. Tradition holds that Chief Justice Taney, frustrated at the lack of punctuality of the other justices, installed this large timepiece in the chamber and always had it set five minutes fast so that there could be no excuse for tardiness. Today, the Willard Clock is still set five minutes fast.