John Francis Mercer (1759-1821)
MSA SC 3520-904

Governor of Maryland, 1801-1803 (anti-Federalist, 1788-1791, Democratic-Republican, 1791-1812; Federalist,
1812-1821)

Born:  May 17, 1759, at "Marlborough Point, " Stafford County, Virginia¹
Father:  John Mercer²
Mother:  Ann (Roy) Mercer³
Marriage:  February 3, 1785 to Sophia Sprigg⁴
Children:  John, Richard, Margaret⁵
Education:
            graduated, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1775
            studied law with Thomas Jefferson, 1779 and at the College of William and Mary, 1782-1783⁶
Religious affiliation:  Anglican⁷
Military service:
            1st Lieutenant, Third Virginia Regiment, commissioned February 26, 1776
            Captain, commissioned September 1777
            Major, aide-de-camp to General Charles Lee, commissioned June 8, 1778, resigned July 2, 1779
            Lieutenant Colonel, Virginia Militia, 1780-1781⁸
Positions held:
            Delegate, Continental Congress, Virginia, 1782-1785
            Delegate, Federal Constitutional Convention, 1787
            U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd District, 2nd and 3rd Congresses, 1792-1794 (resigned)
            Maryland House of Delegates, 1788, 1791-1792, 1800-1801 (resigned), 1803-1805
            Delegate, Constitution Ratification Convention, Anne Arundel County, 1788
            Common Councilman, Annapolis, 1792
            Maryland Senate elector, Anne Arundel County, 1801
            Governor of Maryland, 1801-1803⁹
Died:  August 30, 1821 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania¹⁰
Burial:  St. Peter's churchyard, Philadelphia¹¹

Notes on sources

Extended biography

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