Horatio Sharpe
Encyclopedia
Horatio Sharpe was the 22nd Proprietary Governor
of Maryland
from 1753 to 1768 under the Restored Proprietary Government
.
He was commissioned in the King's forces in 1745 as a Captain
and fought in the Jacobite rebellion against the Scots. He served with the 20th Regiment of Foot and the Marines. Later he is found in the West Indies as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He served until his appointment by Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore
as the proprietary Maryland colonial governor. (Following Samuel Ogle
, who had died.) Horatio Sharpe was the brother of Lord Baltimore's guardian (William). He arrived in Maryland in August 1753.
Appointed by the King in 1754 as the Royal Commander in Chief of all British Forces and commander of colonial forces for the protection of Virginia and adjoining Colonies until superseded by Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock
in 1755.
He was a capable civil and military administrator, gentleman-farmer, fancier of fine horses, hospitable host, and friend of George Mason
and George Washington
. (Source: Jim Bartlinski, Carlyle House Curator, 14 Feb 2006)
Horatio Sharpe also built Whitehall
on the outskirts of Annapolis (Whitehall Road, Skidmore, Anne Arundel County). Now a National Historic Landmark
, Whitehall was designed by Joseph Horatio Anderson
, who was also the architect of the Maryland State House
. It served as Sharpe's residence from the time of his enforced retirement in 1769 until his return to England in 1773.
He returned to England to attend to family matters in 1773 and remained there until his death in 1790. In the Maryland Confiscation Act of 1780, Horatio Sharpe is specifically mentioned by name. He was encouraged by the new state of Maryland to return from England to Maryland and reclaim his lands. Barring that, he was permitted to sell or dispose of all his Maryland properties which he did by selling or giving to his long-time secretary, John Ridout. John Ridout staying in Maryland throughout the Revolutionary War to protect his former employer's property.
Sir Robert Eden, 1st Baronet (1741–1784) was the last Royal Governor of Maryland. He followed Horatio Sharpe as governor in 1769.
Proprietary Governor
Proprietary Governors were individuals authorized to govern proprietary colonies. Under the proprietary system, individuals or companies were granted commercial charters by the King of England to establish colonies. These proprietors then selected the governors and other officials in the colony....
of Maryland
Province of Maryland
The Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S...
from 1753 to 1768 under the Restored Proprietary Government
Province of Maryland
The Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S...
.
Biography
Horatio Sharpe was born in England in 1718. He had nine brothers and four sisters Sharpe's brothers John, Joshua, William, and Gregory Sharpe. The sisters's names are unknown. His brother Gregory Sharpe (1713–1771) was Master of the Temple and chaplain to George III.He was commissioned in the King's forces in 1745 as a Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
and fought in the Jacobite rebellion against the Scots. He served with the 20th Regiment of Foot and the Marines. Later he is found in the West Indies as a Lieutenant-Colonel. He served until his appointment by Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore
Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore
Frederick Calvert, 6th Baron Baltimore, 4th Proprietor of Maryland was an English nobleman and last in the line of Barons Baltimore...
as the proprietary Maryland colonial governor. (Following Samuel Ogle
Samuel Ogle
Samuel Ogle was the 16th, 18th and 20th Proprietary Governor of Maryland from 1731 to 1732, 1733 to 1742, and 1746/1747 to 1752.-Background:...
, who had died.) Horatio Sharpe was the brother of Lord Baltimore's guardian (William). He arrived in Maryland in August 1753.
Appointed by the King in 1754 as the Royal Commander in Chief of all British Forces and commander of colonial forces for the protection of Virginia and adjoining Colonies until superseded by Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock
Edward Braddock
General Edward Braddock was a British soldier and commander-in-chief for the 13 colonies during the actions at the start of the French and Indian War...
in 1755.
He was a capable civil and military administrator, gentleman-farmer, fancier of fine horses, hospitable host, and friend of George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
and George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. (Source: Jim Bartlinski, Carlyle House Curator, 14 Feb 2006)
Horatio Sharpe also built Whitehall
Whitehall, Maryland
Whitehall is a plantation house that was built about 1760 near Annapolis in Anne Arundel County in the Province of Maryland. When Whitehall was built, Maryland was a colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain....
on the outskirts of Annapolis (Whitehall Road, Skidmore, Anne Arundel County). Now a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, Whitehall was designed by Joseph Horatio Anderson
Joseph Horatio Anderson
Joseph Horatio Anderson was an architect in Annapolis, Maryland in the late 18th century. He was the architect for the third and current Maryland State House, the second St Anne's Church, and Whitehall, a plantation house near Annapolis.- External links :*...
, who was also the architect of the Maryland State House
Maryland State House
The Maryland State House is located in Annapolis and is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use, dating to 1772. It houses the Maryland General Assembly and offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The capitol has the distinction of being topped by the largest wooden dome in...
. It served as Sharpe's residence from the time of his enforced retirement in 1769 until his return to England in 1773.
He returned to England to attend to family matters in 1773 and remained there until his death in 1790. In the Maryland Confiscation Act of 1780, Horatio Sharpe is specifically mentioned by name. He was encouraged by the new state of Maryland to return from England to Maryland and reclaim his lands. Barring that, he was permitted to sell or dispose of all his Maryland properties which he did by selling or giving to his long-time secretary, John Ridout. John Ridout staying in Maryland throughout the Revolutionary War to protect his former employer's property.
Sir Robert Eden, 1st Baronet (1741–1784) was the last Royal Governor of Maryland. He followed Horatio Sharpe as governor in 1769.
External links
- Sharpe's correspondence. From The Archives of Maryland