GOVERNORS' COUNCILS, 1777-1838

The Constitution of 1776 (Art. XXVI) provided that both houses
of the Legislature elect by joint ballot five men to be "the Council
to the Governor". This was an advisory body of considerable in-
fluence. It was also provided that on the death, removal or in-
capacity of the Governor the first named of the Council should become
Governor and proceed to the calling of a special session of the Legis-
lature for the election of a new Governor. The Council was abolished
in 1838 by means of a constitutional amendment (Acts 1836, ch. 197,
sec. 13; Acts 1837, ch. 84).

Mar. 1777—Charles Carroll, Sr., (declined), Josiah Polk, John Rogers,
Edward Lloyd, John Contee (declined), Thomas Sim Lee
(elected vice Carroll Mar. 26, 1777), James Brice (elected
vice Contee Apr. 16, 1777, declined), Joseph Sim (elected
vice Brice Apr. 19, 1777).

Nov. 1777—Thomas Sim Lee, Joseph Sim (declined), Edward Lloyd,
John Rogers (declined), Josiah Polk (declined), James
Brice (elected vice Sim Nov. 25, 1777), William Hemsley
(elected vice Rogers Nov. 25, 1777 declined), Daniel
Carroll (elected vice Polk Nov. 25, 1777), James Hindman
(elected vice Hemsley Dec. 23, 1777).

Nov. 1778—Thomas Sim Lee, James Brice, Daniel Carroll, Edward

Lloyd, James Hindman.

Nov. 1779—John H. Stone, Jeremiah T. Chase, James Brice, Daniel

Carroll, John Brice.

Nov. 1780—Daniel Carroll, James Brice, John H. Stone, Jeremiah

T. Chase, Samuel T. Wright.

Nov. 1781—John H. Stone, James Brice, Jeremiah T. Chase, Samuel

T. Wright, Benjamin C. Stoddert.

Nov. 1782—Benjamin C. Stoddert, Gabriel Duvall, Jeremiah T. Chase,

James Brice, John H. Stone.

Nov. 1783—Jeremiah T. Chase (resigned), Gabriel Duvall (resigned),
John H. Stone, James Brice (resigned), Benjamin Ogle
(resigned), John Davidson (elected vice Chase Jan. 5,
1784), James Brice (elected vice Duvall July 29, 1784,
declined), Aquila Paca (elected vice Brice Aug. 4, 1784),
Samuel T. Wright (elected vice Ogle Apr. 3, 1784).

Nov. 1784—Charles Wallace, Aquila Paca, John Davidson, John H.

Stone, Samuel T. Wright.

Nov. 1785—Jeremiah T. Chase, James Brice, Gabriel Duvall (re-
signed), John Kilty, Samuel T. Wright, William Paca
(elected vice Duvall Apr. 27, 1786).

Dec. 1786—Jeremiah T. Chase, James Brice, James Hindman, John

Kilty, John Davidson.

Nov. 1787—Jeremiah T. Chase, James Brice, John Kilty, John David-
son, Benjamin Harrison.

Nov. 1788—James Brice, John Davidson, William Hindman, Josias C.
Hall, John Kilty.

Nov. 1789—John Kilty, James Brice, John Davidson, William Hind-
man, Randolph B. Latimer.

Nov. 1790—Henry Ridgely, Randolph B. Latimer, John Davidson,

William Hindman, John Kilty.

Nov. 1791—James Brice, Henry Ridgely, Randolph B. Latimer (de-
clined), John H. Stone, John Davidson, Uriah Forrest
(elected vice Latimer Dec. 31, 1791).