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Robert Wright (politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Wright was an American
politician.
Wright was born at Narborough, near Chestertown, Maryland
, attended the common schools, and the Kent Free School (later Washington College
) of Chestertown. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1773, and commenced practice in Chestertown. He served in the Maryland militia during the American Revolutionary War
as private, lieutenant, and later as captain. After the war, he served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from 1784 to 1786, and as a member of the Maryland State Senate
in 1801.
In 1800, Wright was elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate
on November 19, 1801, for the term commencing March 4, 1801. In the Senate, Wright served as delegate to the Farmers’ National Convention in 1803. He resigned from the Senate on November 12, 1806, having been elected the 12th Governor of Maryland
, a position he served in from 1806 to 1809.
After his tenure as Governor, Wright served as clerk of Queen Anne's County, Maryland
in 1810, and was elected to the Eleventh and Twelfth Congresses to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Brown
. He was re-elected to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses and served from November 29, 1810, to March 3, 1817. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1816 to the Fifteenth Congress, but was elected to the Seventeenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1821 to March 3, 1823. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1822.
In his later life, Wright served as district judge of the lower Eastern Shore district of Maryland from 1823 until his death at Blakeford in Queen Anne's County. He is interred in the private burying ground of the DeCourcy family at Cheston-on-Wye in Queen Anne's County.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician.
Wright was born at Narborough, near Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown, Maryland
Chestertown is a town in Kent County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,746 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Kent County. The ZIP code is 21620 and the area codes are 410 and 443...
, attended the common schools, and the Kent Free School (later Washington College
Washington College
Washington College is a private, independent liberal arts college located on a campus in Chestertown, Maryland, on the Eastern Shore. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782...
) of Chestertown. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1773, and commenced practice in Chestertown. He served in the Maryland militia during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
as private, lieutenant, and later as captain. After the war, he served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Maryland House of Delegates
The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland, and is composed of 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The House chamber is located in the state capitol building on State Circle in Annapolis...
from 1784 to 1786, and as a member of the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
in 1801.
In 1800, Wright was elected as a Democratic Republican to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on November 19, 1801, for the term commencing March 4, 1801. In the Senate, Wright served as delegate to the Farmers’ National Convention in 1803. He resigned from the Senate on November 12, 1806, having been elected the 12th Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
, a position he served in from 1806 to 1809.
After his tenure as Governor, Wright served as clerk of Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Queen Anne's County, Maryland
Queen Anne's County is a county located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 47,798. Its county seat and most populous municipality is Centreville. The census-designated place of Stevensville is the county's most populous place...
in 1810, and was elected to the Eleventh and Twelfth Congresses to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Brown
John Brown (Maryland)
John Brown was an American Congressman from the seventh district of Maryland.Brown's birth date and location are unknown, but he served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1807 to 1808 and was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eleventh Congress in 1809...
. He was re-elected to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses and served from November 29, 1810, to March 3, 1817. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1816 to the Fifteenth Congress, but was elected to the Seventeenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1821 to March 3, 1823. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1822.
In his later life, Wright served as district judge of the lower Eastern Shore district of Maryland from 1823 until his death at Blakeford in Queen Anne's County. He is interred in the private burying ground of the DeCourcy family at Cheston-on-Wye in Queen Anne's County.