Michael MacNamara
Encyclopedia
Michael MacNamara was a politician in Colonial Maryland, who served 3 terms as Mayor of Annapolis
.
MacNamara held a number of Proprietary appointments in colonial Maryland and, politically, was a Loyalist
. He was Mayor of Annapolis on three occasions, from 1746–1747, 1753–1754, and 1760–1761.
Maryland politics could evidently be rancorous. Court records show that MacNamara and his predecessor as Annapolis mayor, the physician George Steuart (1700–1784), were both required "to post a bond to keep the peace...especially with each other".
Contemporary records show that in 1754 MacNamara was the Deputy Commissioner of Anne Arundel County, hearing a claim by Henrietta Maria Dulany seeking to overturn the will of her late husband, the planter and politician Daniel Dulany the Elder
(1685–1753).
In 1766, MacNamara became embroiled in a war of words Samuel Chase
, a vocal opponent of the Stamp Act
and later a signer of the American Declaration of Independence. In an open letter dated July 18, 1766 Chase attacked MacNamara, John Brice
, Walter Dulany
, George Steuart, and others for publishing an article in the Maryland Gazette Extraordinary
of June 19, 1766, in which Chase had been accused of being: "a busy, reckless incendiary, a ringleader of mobs, a foul-mouthed and inflaming son of discord and faction, a common disturber of the public tranquility".
In his response, Chase accused MacNamara and the others of "vanity...pride and arrogance", and of being brought to power by "proprietory influence, court favour, and the wealth and influence of the tools and favourites who infest this city."
In particular Chase accused MacNamara, in highly personal terms, of having been "reduced to a servile dependency" by "the consequences of a bad life", and accused him of having allowed his children to be "reduced to beggary by your continued round of vice and folly, drunkenness and debauchery".
Mayor of Annapolis
The Mayor of Annapolis is the chief political figure in the city of Annapolis, which is the capital city of Maryland. The mayor is elected to a four-year term.-List of Mayors of Annapolis:*1708–1720 Amos Garrett*1720–1721 Thomas Larkin...
.
Politics
Originally from IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
MacNamara held a number of Proprietary appointments in colonial Maryland and, politically, was a Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
. He was Mayor of Annapolis on three occasions, from 1746–1747, 1753–1754, and 1760–1761.
Maryland politics could evidently be rancorous. Court records show that MacNamara and his predecessor as Annapolis mayor, the physician George Steuart (1700–1784), were both required "to post a bond to keep the peace...especially with each other".
Contemporary records show that in 1754 MacNamara was the Deputy Commissioner of Anne Arundel County, hearing a claim by Henrietta Maria Dulany seeking to overturn the will of her late husband, the planter and politician Daniel Dulany the Elder
Daniel Dulany the Elder
Daniel Dulany the Elder was a prominent lawyer and land-developer in colonial Maryland, who held a number of colonial offices. In 1722 Dulany write a pamphlet entitled The Right of the Inhabitants of Maryland, to the Benefit of the English Laws, asserting the rights of Marylanders over the...
(1685–1753).
Coming of Revolution
Samuel Chase
Samuel Chase was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court and earlier was a signatory to the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Maryland. Early in life, Chase was a "firebrand" states-righter and revolutionary...
, a vocal opponent of the Stamp Act
Stamp Act
A stamp act is any legislation that requires a tax to be paid on the transfer of certain documents. Those that pay the tax receive an official stamp on their documents, making them legal documents. The taxes raised under a stamp act are called stamp duty. This system of taxation was first devised...
and later a signer of the American Declaration of Independence. In an open letter dated July 18, 1766 Chase attacked MacNamara, John Brice
John Brice, Jr.
John Brice, Jr. was an early American settler and Loyalist politician in colonial Maryland. He was a member of the Governor's Council, twice Mayor of Annapolis, and a chief justice in the colony's court. Two of his sons would in their turn become Mayors of Annapolis.-Early life:John was born in...
, Walter Dulany
Walter Dulany
Walter Dulany was a politician in Colonial Maryland, who served as Mayor of Annapolis from 1766 to 1767. His family house and land at Windmill Point later became the location for the United States Naval Academy.-Early life:...
, George Steuart, and others for publishing an article in the Maryland Gazette Extraordinary
The Capital
The Capital is a daily newspaper published in Annapolis, Maryland. It serves the city as well as all of Anne Arundel County and neighboring Kent Island in Queen Anne's County. It is an evening newspaper during the week and offers morning delivery on the weekend. Philip Merrill was the publisher...
of June 19, 1766, in which Chase had been accused of being: "a busy, reckless incendiary, a ringleader of mobs, a foul-mouthed and inflaming son of discord and faction, a common disturber of the public tranquility".
In his response, Chase accused MacNamara and the others of "vanity...pride and arrogance", and of being brought to power by "proprietory influence, court favour, and the wealth and influence of the tools and favourites who infest this city."
In particular Chase accused MacNamara, in highly personal terms, of having been "reduced to a servile dependency" by "the consequences of a bad life", and accused him of having allowed his children to be "reduced to beggary by your continued round of vice and folly, drunkenness and debauchery".
See also
- Colonial government in the Thirteen Colonies
- List of mayors of Annapolis, Maryland