SKETCH OF THE GOVERNOR

Governor: ALBERT C. RITCHIE (Democrat), Baltimore.

Albert C. Ritchie was born August 29, 1876. He is a mem-
ber of the Protestant Episcopal Church. His father was
Judge Albert Ritchie, who had been a member of the Mary-
land Constitutional Convention of 1867, City Solicitor of
Baltimore, City Counsellor of Baltimore, President of the
Maryland Historical Society, Professor at the University of
Maryland Law School, and Judge of the Supreme Bench of
Baltimore City. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss
Elizabeth Caskie Cabell of Richmond, Virginia.

Mr. Ritchie received his early education in private schools
in Baltimore and graduated from the Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity in 1896 with the degree of A. B.) and from the University
of Maryland Law School in 1898 with the degree of LL. B.
In 1920 he received the degree of LL.D. from the University
of Maryland and from St. John's College, in 1923 from
Washington College, and in 1929 from Loyola College.

Upon his graduation, Mr. Ritchie began the practice of law
in Baltimore City with the firm of Steele, Semmes, Carey &
Bond, of which firm he became a member in 1900. In March,
1908, he was appointed Assistant City Solicitor of Baltimore
City, holding this position until July 1, 1910, when he
resigned.

In November, 1903, Mr. Ritchie formed a partnership for
the general practice of law with Mr. Stuart S. Janney, under
the firm name of Ritchie & Janney, which firm later became
Ritchie, Janney & Griswold, and still later Ritchie, Janney &
Stuart. Mr. Ritchie was a member of this firm until his
election as Governor.

In 1907 he was appointed Professor of Law at the Univer-
sity of Maryland Law School and served in this capacity
until his election as Governor.

On July 1, 1910, Mr. Ritchie became Assistant General
Counsel to the Public Service Commission. This is the posi-
tion popularly known as People's Counsel, and it was in this
capacity that Mr. Ritchie represented the people of Balti-
more in his noteworthy fight for cheaper gas and electricity,
which resulted in reducing the price of gas from 90 to 80
cents per 1000 cubic feet, and the price of electricity from 10
to 81/2 cents per K.W.H. On February 16, 1913, Mr. Ritchie
resigned this position to devote his time to private practise.

In September, 1915, Mr. Ritchie was nominated in the
direct primary on. the Democratic ticket for Attorney-Gen-
eral of Maryland, and in November, 1915, he was elected to
that office by a majority of 25,000.