REVOLUTIONARY INTERREGNUM

During the years 1774 through 1776 more and more of the powers
of government came to be exercised by popular bodies though the
authority of the Governor was still acknowledged until Eden's depar-
ture. The Conventions were composed of delegates from each county
elected by the freemen of the Province in much the same manner as
the House of Delegates. It was inconvenient for so large a group
(at one meeting there were 141 delegates) to remain in continuous
session; therefore, Councils of Safety were elected by the Conventions
to exercise executive power during the intervals between Convention
meetings. With some exceptions the Councils of Safety were com-
posed of nine members, five from the western shore and four from the
eastern shore. The Convention which met from August 14, 1776,
about six weeks after the Declaration of Independence, through
November II, 1776, framed the Constitution which governed Mary-
land until 1861. The General Assembly established by the Constitu-
tion began meeting on February 6, 1777, but the Council of Safety
continued to function as the executive body of the State until March
20 of the same year. On March 22, 1777, the Assembly adopted a
resolution "for dissolving the Council of Safety and Vesting the Gov-
ernor and Council with their Powers." The Governor and Council
had qualified two days earlier on March 20 and they immediately
began to perform the duties assigned to them.

Conventions of the Province of Maryland

June 22-25,1774.............................Matthew Tilghman................Chairman
Nov. 21-26, 1774............................Matthew Tilghman................Chairman
Dec. 8-12, 1774..............................John Hall................................Chairman
April 24-May 3, 1775....................Matthew Tilghman................Chairman
July 26-Aug. 14, 1775..................Matthew Tilghman................Chairman
Dec. 7, 1775-Jan. 18, 1776 .........Matthew Tilghman................President
May 8-26, 1776..............................Charles Carroll, Barrister.....President
June 21-July 6, 1776......................Matthew Tilghman................President
Aug. 14-Nov. 11, 1776..................Matthew Tilghman................President

Councils of Safety

August 29, 1775-October 21, 1775 Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer,
President, Thomas Johnson, Jr., William Paca, Charles Carroll, Bar-
rister, Thomas Stone (never acted), Samuel Chase, Robert Alexander,
Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Matthew Tilghman, John Beale Bordley
(declined), Robert Goldsborough (never acted), James Hollyday,
Richard Lloyd, Edward Lloyd, Thomas Smyth, Henry Hooper.

January 18, 1776-May 26, 1776 Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer,
President, Charles Carroll, Barrister, John Hall, Benjamin Rumsey,
James Tilghman, Thomas Smyth, Thomas Bedingfield Hands.

May 27, 1776-July 6, 1776 Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, President,
Charles Carroll, Barrister, John Hall, Benjamin Rumsey (never acted),
George Plater, James Tilghman, Thomas Smyth, Thomas Bedingfield
Hands, William Hayward.

July 6, 1776-November 11, 1776 Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer,
President, John Hall, George Plater, Charles Carroll, Barrister,
Thomas Bedingfield Hands (declined), Benjamin Rumsey, Thomas
Smyth, James Tilghman, Joseph Nicholson, Jr., Nicholas Thomas
(appointed by Council September 18, 1776).

November 12, 1776-March 20, 1777 Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer,
President, John Hall, George Plater, Brice Thomas Beale Worthing-