b. July 16, 1817, in Chestertown, Maryland; d. October 9, 1865, in Effingham, Illinois. Constable studied law at the University of Virginia. In April of 1840, Constable moved to Mt. Carmel, Illinois, to practice law. In 1846, he was elected to the state senate. In 1847, he opposed Lincoln as counsel in the famous Matson slave case. He was a delegate to the Illinois constitutional convention of 1848. Originally a Whig, Constable switched to the Democratic party in 1854. In June of 1861, he was elected judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit and held that position until his death.