John Doyle was born in
Perry County, Ohio, and lived in
Toledo, Ohio from 1847 until his death. He was educated in the Toledo Public Schools and for a short time at
Denison University of
Granville. During the winter of 1862–1863, he intended to enter the
67th Ohio Infantry, but was stricken with typhoid fever, and unable to pursue military service. He began study of law with
Henry S. Commager, and continued with Edward Bissel. He was
admitted to the bar on his 21st birthday, and entered partnership with Bissel. In 1879, Doyle was elected, as a Republican, judge of the
Common Pleas Court for the district of
Lucas,
Sandusky,
Ottawa,
Huron and
Erie Counties. In February, 1883,
Governor Foster appointed Doyle to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court caused by the resignation of
Nicholas Longworth II. and resigned his seat in December 1883. He also lectured on constitutional law at St. John's Law School at Toledo. Doyle was married October 6, 1868 to Alice Fuller Skinner from
Windsor, Connecticut, a descendant of
Roger Wolcott and
Oliver Wolcott, and had three daughters. ==Publications==