MARYLAND AT A GLANCE

HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY

MARYLAND IN THE WAR OF 1812

• Prelude to War
• Chronology of the War
• Marylanders during the War of 1812

Maryland was as an important front during the War of 1812, and many citizens took up arms to defend their homes. Farmers, lawyers, physicians, and tradesmen, all took part in the defense of Maryland. Some elected officials yielded their positions to enlist with militia units or the regular army, while others retained their public offices, choosing to serve the needs of citizens and soldiers through budgeting, and policy.

Marylanders served the nation as well as their State. From privateers to major generals of the U.S. Army, many Marylanders left their homes to aid their country. They served on all fronts, supported the nation, and defended their homes.

• Stevenson Archer (1786-1848)
  U.S. Representative, 1811-17, 1819-21
  Paymaster, 40th Maryland Militia
  Chief Judge, Judicial Circuit for Baltimore City & Baltimore & Harford counties, 1823-44
  Chief Judge, Court of Appeals, 1844-48

• George Armistead (1780-1818)
  Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army
  Commanding Officer, Fort McHenry, 1813-18

• Charles Ball (1781-unknown)
  Escaped slave
  Served as cook, Chesapeake Flotilla

• Joshua Barney (1759-1818)
  Commodore, U.S. Navy
  Commanded Chesapeake Flotilla defending Chesapeake Bay

• William Beanes (1749-1828)
  Physician captured by British while arresting English stragglers
  Release from custody postponed until completion of assault on Fort McHenry

• Thomas Boyle (1776-1825)
  Privateer
  Captain, Baltimore Clipper Chasseur, the "Pride of Baltimore"

• Stephen Decatur (1779-1820)
  Captain, U.S. Navy

• Jesse Elliott (1782-1845)
  Captain, U.S. Navy

• Charles Goldsborough (1765-1834)
  U.S. Representative, 1805-17
  Governor of Maryland, 1818-19

• Robert H. Goldsborough (1779-1836)
  U.S. Senator, 1813-19, 1835-36
  Cavalry officer, Maryland Militia

• Alexander Contee Hanson (1786-1819)
  U.S. Representative, 1813-16
  U.S. Senator, 1816-19

• Edward Johnson (1767-1829)
  Member, Baltimore City Council, 1797-1803
  Mayor of Baltimore, 1808-16, 1819-24

• Joseph Kent (1779-1837)
  Surgeon, Maryland Militia, 1809
  U.S. Representative, 1811-15, 1819-26
  Governor of Maryland, 1826-29
  U.S. Senator, 1833-37

• Francis Scott Key (1779-1843)
  Present at shelling of Fort McHenry, wrote poem, "Defence of Fort McHenry," which later became known as "The Star Spangled Banner"

• Peter Little (1775-1830)
  U.S. Representative, 1811-13, 1816-29
  Colonel, 38th Maryland Infantry, 1813-15

• Alexander McKim (1748-1832)
  U.S. Representative, 1809-15

• Nicholas Ruxton Moore (1756-1816)
  U.S. Representative, 1803-11, 1813-15
  Lt. Colonel, 6th Regiment Cavalry District of Maryland

• John O'Neill (1768-1838)
  Lieutenant, Maryland Militia
  Commanded defense of Havre de Grace, May 3, 1813

• Mary Pickersgill (1776-1857)
  Sewed "Star-Spangled Banner" for Fort McHenry

• Philip Reed (1760-1829)
  U.S. Senator, 1806-13
  Lt. Colonel, 21st Regiment, Maryland Militia
  Commanding officer, Battle of Caulks Field, Aug., 1814
  U.S. Representative, 1817-19, 1822-23

• Samuel Ringgold (1770-1829)
  U.S. Representative, 1810-15, 1817-21
  Brig. General, Maryland Militia

• George Roberts (unknown-1861)
  Impressed sailor, later served abord Chasseur

• John Rodgers (1772-1838)
  Commodore, U.S. Navy

• James Sewall
  Major, Maryland Militia
  Commanding officer, Fort Defiance, Elkton, 1813

• John Stuart Skinner (1788-1851)
  U.S. Agent for Prisoner Exchange with England
  Accompanied Francis Scott Key to arrange release of Dr. William Beanes

• Samuel Smith (1752-1839)
  U.S. Representative, 1793-1803, 1816-22
  U.S. Senator, 1803-15, 1822-33
  Maj. General, commanded defense of Baltimore, Sept., 1814

• John Stricker (1758-1825)
  Collector, Port of Baltimore, 1801-10
  Brig. General, Maryland Militia
  Commanding officer at Battle of North Point, Sept., 1814

• Philip Stuart (1760-1830)
  U.S. Representative, 1811-19
  Served in Maryland Militia

• Nathaniel Towson (1784-1854)
  Captain, U.S. Army, 1812
  Brevet Major, U.S. Army, 1812 (captured enemy brig HMS Caledonia under guns, Fort Erie)
  Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army, 1814 (distinguished & gallant conduct, Battle of Chippawa)
  Paymaster General, U.S. Army, 1819-21, 1822-1854
  Colonel, U.S. Army, 1821
  Brevet Brig. General, U.S. Army, 1834
  Brevet Maj. General, U.S. Army, 1848

• James Wilkinson (1757-1825)
  Maj. General, U.S. Army
  Led Montreal campaign, Canada, 1813

• James Winchester (1752-1826)
  Brig. General, U.S. Army
  Commanding officer at Battle of Frenchtown (present-day Monroe, Michigan), January 18-23, 1813

• Levin Winder (1757-1819)
  Governor of Maryland, 1812-16

• William Henry Winder (1775-1824)
  Brig. General, U.S. Army
  Commanding officer at Battle of Bladensburg, Aug., 1814

• Robert Wright (1752-1826)
  U.S. Senator, 1801-06
  Governor of Maryland, 1806-09
  U.S. Representative, 1810-17, 1821-23
  

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