Samuel Stevens Jr.

Samuel Stevens Jr. (July 13, 1778 – February 7, 1860) served as the 18th Governor of the state of Maryland in the United States from 1822 to 1826. He intermittently represented Talbot County, Maryland in the House of Delegates from 1807 to 1820.

For the British politician, see Samuel Stephens (junior). For those of a similar name, see Samuel Stephens (disambiguation).
Samuel Stevens Jr.
18th Governor of Maryland
In office
December 16, 1822 – January 9, 1826
Preceded bySamuel Sprigg
Succeeded byJoseph Kent
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office
1807–1813
In office
1817
In office
1819–1820
Personal details
Born(1778-07-13)July 13, 1778
Talbot County, Maryland, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 1860(1860-02-07) (aged 81)
Talbot County, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic-Republican

Biography

Samuel Stevens Jr. is thought to have been born in Talbot County, Maryland on July 13, 1778. He was the son of John Stevens and Elizabeth Connoly, and a descendant of the Quakers who had initially settled both Dorchester and Talbot Counties. His father died when he was 16 years old. He had no formal education and was in business in Philadelphia for a short time. In 1804, he married Eliza May of Chester, Pennsylvania, and they had one son.[1] He inherited the estate Compton from his father in 1794.[2]

He was chosen to the Maryland House of Delegates from Talbot County in 1807 and served a number of non-consecutive terms until 1820. Stevens was elected Governor on December 9, 1822, defeating James B. Robins. His tenure is remembered for the enfranchisement of the Jews, the abolition of a religious test for Maryland office holders, the extension of the civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights to State law, and the creation of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. The governor also welcomed the Marquis de Lafayette to Maryland during his triumphal tour of the nation. He was re-elected in 1823 and 1824.[1]

He was succeeded as governor by Joseph Kent on January 9, 1826, and retired to his home on "Dividing Creek." He died at "Compton" on February 7, 1860, at 81 years old and buried in the family cemetery.[1]

Legacy

Compton was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.[3]

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References
  1. Frank F. White Jr. (1970), "Biography of Samuel Stevens Jr.", The Governors of Maryland 1777–1970, Annapolis: The Hall of Records Commission, pp. 83–84, OCLC 144620, retrieved April 28, 2011
  2. "Maryland Historical Trust". National Register of Historic Places: Compton. Maryland Historical Trust. October 5, 2008.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
Political offices
Preceded by
Samuel Sprigg		 Governor of Maryland
1822–1826		 Succeeded by
Joseph Kent
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