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During GOVERNOR RIDGELY's term of office, the Legislature established a fund to
start free schools; ceded Fort McHenry and Fort Washington to the federal govern-
ment; incorporated the Washington and Baltimore Canal Company; and established
the Patapsco Company to build another canal. The State experienced a period of
tremendous growth and resource development; internal improvements such as roads
and bridges were provided for; and manufacturing companies, insurance companies
and other businesses were begun. Road improvements especially would have been most
desirable to GOVERNOR RIDGELY. A historian and guest at Hampton in 1797 stated
that the roads through the forest to Hampton were so bad "that it is a day's work in
winter for a team."

In 1819, CHARLES CARNAN RIDGELY returned to private life. Influenced by his uncle,
the Builder, he fashioned Hampton into a showplace. During his tenure, lands which had
been willed to other heirs were bought back and new tracts were added. By 1812, all other
interests in the Nottingham Company lands had been bought up by CHARLES CARNAN
RIDGELY and more of the Principio lands and lands adjoining the Northampton fur-
nace were purchased as well. By the 1820s, all of the final one-third interest in the
Northampton Company had been acquired by the GENERAL. Coal was discovered and
mined on the estate, and marble from the Ridgely quarries was used for the Washington
Monument in Baltimore. The fortune of the Ridgelys had grown with that of the city.
From a population of about 200 persons in 1750, Baltimore's citizenry numbered more
than 80,000 by 1830.

The Ridgely plantations were equally busy. Tobacco production had given way to
corn, wheat and other grains, and beef cattle became an important product for local
markets. GENERAL RIDGELY also was elected president of the Maryland Agricul-
tural Society.

His concern for the land extended not only to profitable agricultural production but
to landscape gardening as well. It was CHARLES CARNAN RIDGELY who completed
the original plans for the formal gardens at Hampton, including the falling terraces of
formal parterres and the landscaping of the north and south lawns, and initiated the plant-
ing of specimen trees and the construction of specialized garden structures. His gardeners
were some of the highest paid employees on the estates and included such well known
nurserymen as William Booth and Samuel Feast.

Carrying on in the tradition of his uncle and grandfather, thoroughbred horses, both
for racing and breeding, were of great interest to CHARLES CARNAN RIDGELY. By
1805, he had constructed a stone racing stable near the Mansion and built a racing course
on the Hampton estate. According to the Jockey Club of New York, GENERAL RIDGELY,
who had some of the finest stables in America, was one of two men in the country (the
other was John Tayloe, III, of Virginia) responsible for Washington and Baltimore's posi-
tion as the center of American racing in the early 19th century.

Among GENERAL RIDGELY's many outstanding thoroughbreds were Tuckahoe, Grey
Medley and Post Boy. An 1809 wager indicating GENERAL RIDGELY bet $10,000 that
Post Boy could beat Potomac in a match race at the Washington City Jockey Club sur-
vives in the Hampton archives. A large silver racing trophy with gilt lining, made by Samuel
Williamson of Philadelphia and engraved with the image of Post Boy and his jockey, was
owned by GENERAL RIDGELY and is presently on exhibit at Hampton.