Philip Reed
Encyclopedia
Philip Reed was a United States
Senator representing Maryland from 1806 to 1813.
Born near Chestertown, Maryland
, in 1760, Reed completed preparatory studies and served with the Continental Army
during the American Revolutionary War
, attaining the rank of captain of infantry. He participated in the Battle of Stony Point
in 1779, and later attested to having cut off the head of an American deserter so that it could be displayed to the troops as a deterrent. Reed was seriously wounded at the Battle of Camden
in 1780. He was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
in 1787, sheriff of Kent County, Maryland
from 1791 to 1794, and also member of the executive council of Maryland from 1805 to 1806.
Reed was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the United States Senate
in 1806 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert Wright
. He was reelected the same year and served from November 25, 1806 to March 3, 1813. During the War of 1812
, Reed served as a lieutenant colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of the Maryland Militia and later as lieutenant colonel commandant. He led a successful defense in the Battle of Caulk's Field
in August 1814.
After the War, Reed was elected to the Fifteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1817 to March 3, 1819. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1818 to the Sixteenth Congress, but successfully contested the election of Jeremiah Cosden
to the Seventeenth Congress and served the remainder of the term from March 19, 1822 to March 3, 1823. In 1828, he served as vice president of the Maryland Society of the Cincinnati. He died in Huntingtown, Maryland
, and is interred in the cemetery of Christ Church near Chestertown.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Senator representing Maryland from 1806 to 1813.
Born 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...
, in 1760, Reed completed preparatory studies and served with the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
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...
, attaining the rank of captain of infantry. He participated in the Battle of Stony Point
Battle of Stony Point
The Battle of Stony Point was a battle of the American Revolutionary War fought on the night of July 15–16, 1779. A select force of Continental Army infantry made a coordinated surprise night attack and stormed a fortified position of the British Army on the Hudson River south of West Point, New...
in 1779, and later attested to having cut off the head of an American deserter so that it could be displayed to the troops as a deterrent. Reed was seriously wounded at the Battle of Camden
Battle of Camden
The Battle of Camden was a major victory for the British in the Southern theater of the American Revolutionary War...
in 1780. He was 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...
in 1787, sheriff of Kent County, Maryland
Kent County, Maryland
Kent County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, on its Eastern Shore. It was named for the county of Kent in England. Its county seat is Chestertown. In 2010, the county population was 20,197...
from 1791 to 1794, and also member of the executive council of Maryland from 1805 to 1806.
Reed 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...
in 1806 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Robert Wright
Robert Wright (politician)
Robert Wright was an American politician.Wright was born at Narborough, near Chestertown, Maryland, attended the common schools, and the Kent Free School of Chestertown. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1773, and commenced practice in Chestertown...
. He was reelected the same year and served from November 25, 1806 to March 3, 1813. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, Reed served as a lieutenant colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of the Maryland Militia and later as lieutenant colonel commandant. He led a successful defense in the Battle of Caulk's Field
Battle of Caulk's Field
The Battle of Caulk’s Field occurred during the War of 1812. Similar to the Battle of Craney Island a year earlier, American militia units were able to repulse a British landing attempt along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.-Background:...
in August 1814.
After the War, Reed was elected to the Fifteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1817 to March 3, 1819. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1818 to the Sixteenth Congress, but successfully contested the election of Jeremiah Cosden
Jeremiah Cosden
Jeremiah Cosden was an American politician. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican and presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Seventeenth Congress and served from March 4, 1821, to March 19, 1822, when he was succeeded by Philip Reed, who successfully contested his election. He died...
to the Seventeenth Congress and served the remainder of the term from March 19, 1822 to March 3, 1823. In 1828, he served as vice president of the Maryland Society of the Cincinnati. He died in Huntingtown, Maryland
Huntingtown, Maryland
Huntingtown is a census-designated place in Calvert County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,436 at the 2000 census. The community is growing, with many large estate homes in small developments off of Maryland Route 2/4. It has a public high school called Huntingtown High. The...
, and is interred in the cemetery of Christ Church near Chestertown.