Early life and career
Thayer was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, the son of a textile manufacturer. He studied law at Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. After graduating, he returned to Worcester and opened a private practice. He was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1893, and served for one term.
Judicial career
In 1901, Thayer was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court. He served in this position until 1913, when he was elected to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He served on this court until his death in 1932.
Scopes Monkey Trial
The Scopes Monkey Trial was a major legal battle that took place in Dayton, Tennessee, in July 1925. The trial was triggered by the passage of the Butler Act, which made it illegal to teach the theory of evolution in public schools in the state. John T. Scopes, a biology teacher at a public school in Dayton, was arrested and charged with violating the act after he admitted to teaching the theory of evolution to his students.
Thayer was appointed to preside over the Scopes trial by the Tennessee Supreme Court. The trial attracted national attention, and it was widely seen as a showdown between the forces of science and religious fundamentalism. Thayer's rulings during the trial were generally sympathetic to the prosecution, and he ultimately convicted Scopes of violating the Butler Act. Scopes was fined $100, but the conviction was later overturned on a technicality by the Tennessee Supreme Court.
Death
Thayer died in Worcester on October 14, 1932, at the age of 75.
Legacy
Thayer is best remembered as the judge who presided over the Scopes Monkey Trial. The trial was a major event in American history, and it played a significant role in shaping the debate over evolution in the United States. Thayer's rulings during the trial have been criticized by some historians and legal scholars, but he remains a controversial and fascinating figure in American history.