Stevenson Archer (1786-1848)
Encyclopedia
Stevenson Archer was a United States Representative from Maryland
, representing the sixth district from 1811 to 1817, and the seventh district from 1819 to 1821. His son Stevenson Archer and father John Archer
were also U.S. Congressmen from Maryland.
Archer was born at Medical Hall, near Churchville, Maryland
, and attended Nottingham Academy of Maryland, later graduating from Princeton College in 1805. He studied law, was admitted to the bar of Harford County, Maryland
in 1808, and commenced practice the same year.
From 1809–1810, Archer served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates
, and was later elected as a Democrat to the Twelfth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Montgomery. He was reelected to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses and served from October 26, 1811 until March 3, 1817. In Congress, Archer served as chairman of the Committee on Claims (Thirteenth Congress), and as a member of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Fourteenth Congress).
During the War of 1812
, he was paymaster to the Fortieth Maryland Militia, and was appointed on March 5, 1817 by President James Madison
as United States judge for the Territory of Mississippi
, with powers of Governor, holding court at St. Stephens. Archer resigned within a year, and returned to Maryland to continue his law practice. He was elected again to the Sixteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1819 until March 3, 1821, and, in Congress, served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy.
In 1823, Archer was appointed chief judge of the judicial circuit court of Baltimore
and Harford Counties and Baltimore City. In 1844, Archer was appointed by Governor Thomas G. Pratt as chief justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals
and served until his death at Medical Hall. He is interred in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Churchville.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, representing the sixth district from 1811 to 1817, and the seventh district from 1819 to 1821. His son Stevenson Archer and father John Archer
John Archer (Maryland)
John Archer was a U.S. Congressman from Maryland, representing the sixth district for three terms from 1801–1807...
were also U.S. Congressmen from Maryland.
Archer was born at Medical Hall, near Churchville, Maryland
Churchville, Maryland
Churchville is an unincorporated town in Harford County, Maryland, located between the county seat, Bel Air, and Aberdeen, where the Aberdeen Proving Ground is located.-History and Lower Cross Roads:...
, and attended Nottingham Academy of Maryland, later graduating from Princeton College in 1805. He studied law, was admitted to the bar of Harford County, Maryland
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
in 1808, and commenced practice the same year.
From 1809–1810, Archer 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...
, and was later elected as a Democrat to the Twelfth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Montgomery. He was reelected to the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses and served from October 26, 1811 until March 3, 1817. In Congress, Archer served as chairman of the Committee on Claims (Thirteenth Congress), and as a member of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Fourteenth Congress).
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...
, he was paymaster to the Fortieth Maryland Militia, and was appointed on March 5, 1817 by President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
as United States judge for the Territory of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, with powers of Governor, holding court at St. Stephens. Archer resigned within a year, and returned to Maryland to continue his law practice. He was elected again to the Sixteenth Congress, serving from March 4, 1819 until March 3, 1821, and, in Congress, served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy.
In 1823, Archer was appointed chief judge of the judicial circuit court of Baltimore
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
and Harford Counties and Baltimore City. In 1844, Archer was appointed by Governor Thomas G. Pratt as chief justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals
Maryland Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of Maryland is the supreme court of the U.S. state of Maryland. The court, which is composed of one chief judge and six associate judges, meets in the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building in the state capital, Annapolis...
and served until his death at Medical Hall. He is interred in the Presbyterian Cemetery, Churchville.