William Howard Taft as Solicitor General.

This article focuses on William Howard Taft's early federal career, particularly his service as Solicitor General of the United States from 1890 to 1892 during President Benjamin Harrison's administration. It details Taft's unexpected appointment to the role, his responsibilities which combined duties now divided among multiple Justice Department offices, and his involvement in significant cases such as the McKinley tariff and the Bering Sea dispute. The article also covers Taft's relationships with key figures like Attorney General William Miller, Justice John Marshall Harlan, and President Harrison, as well as his subsequent appointment to the newly created Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Taft's experiences in Washington during this period helped shape his legal and political career, laying groundwork for his future roles as President and Chief Justice of the United States.