Virgil Maxcy
Encyclopedia
Virgil Maxcy was an American
political figure. He was born in Massachusetts, and spent his adult years in Maryland
. He was killed in 1844 in a shipboard accident, when a cannon
exploded aboard the USS Princeton
.
, Virgil Maxcy was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts
in 1785. He graduated from Brown University
in 1804, studied law with Robert Goodloe Harper
and became an attorney in Baltimore, Maryland.
s, declaration of independence, constitution and amendments.
Maxcy also prepared and distributed The Maryland resolutions, and the objections to them considered, an 1822 work which argued against proposals to appropriate public land for the building of schools and other purposes.
In 1833 he delivered A discourse before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Brown University, a lecture that was published as a pamphlet
.
(1824-1825).
Maxcy later became a Democrat
and supported Andrew Jackson
for President
in 1824 and 1828. When Jackson won the 1828 election
, Maxcy's friend John C. Calhoun
attempted to have him appointed as Treasurer of the United States
, but Jackson and Secretary of the Treasury Samuel D. Ingham
decided for political reasons to offer the position to John Campbell
. Instead, Maxcy received appointment as Solicitor of the Treasury
, where he served from 1830 to 1837.
In 1837 President Martin Van Buren
named William Haywood
as US Chargé d'Affaires in Belgium
. Haywood declined the appointment, and Van Buren then named Maxcy, who served until 1842.
on February 28, 1844 as a result of the explosion on board the USS Princeton
, which also killed four others, including two members of President John Tyler's
cabinet. Maxcy was struck by metal shards from the "Peacemaker" cannon, a large artillery
piece made by John Ericsson
which was being fired as part of a demonstration for visiting dignitaries. According to published accounts, Maxcy lost both arms and a leg in the explosion and was killed instantly.
Maxcy was originally entombed at Congressional Cemetery
in Washington, D.C. He was subsequently reburied at Tulip Hill
, a large estate near Annapolis, Maryland
that was owned by his wife's family.
Maxcy was a longtime friend of John C. Calhoun
. They exchanged frequent letters, many of which have been published.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political figure. He was born in Massachusetts, and spent his adult years in Maryland
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...
. He was killed in 1844 in a shipboard accident, when a cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
exploded aboard the USS Princeton
USS Princeton (1843)
The first Princeton was the first screw steam warship in the United States Navy. She was launched in 1843, decommissioned in 1847, and broken up in 1849....
.
Early life
The younger brother of Jonathan MaxcyJonathan Maxcy
Jonathan Maxcy was the second president of Brown University ; the third president of Union College; and the first president of the University of South Carolina.Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts on September 2, 1768, Maxcy was educated at an academy in Wrentham, Massachusetts and...
, Virgil Maxcy was born in Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro, Massachusetts
Attleboro is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States and is immediately north of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Once known as "The Jewelry Capital of the World" for its many jewelry manufacturers, Attleboro had a population of 42,068 at the 2000 census, and a population of 43,645 as of...
in 1785. He graduated from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in 1804, studied law with Robert Goodloe Harper
Robert Goodloe Harper
Robert Goodloe Harper , a Federalist, was a member of the United States Senate from Maryland, serving from January 1816 until his resignation in December of the same year. He also served in the South Carolina House of Representatives , the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina , and in...
and became an attorney in Baltimore, Maryland.
Career as an author
In 1811 Maxcy authored The Laws of Maryland from 1692 to 1809, a multi-volume work that compiled Maryland's statuteStatute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations...
s, declaration of independence, constitution and amendments.
Maxcy also prepared and distributed The Maryland resolutions, and the objections to them considered, an 1822 work which argued against proposals to appropriate public land for the building of schools and other purposes.
In 1833 he delivered A discourse before the Phi Beta Kappa Society of Brown University, a lecture that was published as a pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
.
Political career
Originally a Federalist, Maxcy served on Maryland's Executive Council in 1815 and served terms in the Maryland Senate (1817-1821) and the Maryland House of DelegatesMaryland 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...
(1824-1825).
Maxcy later became a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and supported Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in 1824 and 1828. When Jackson won the 1828 election
United States presidential election, 1828
The United States presidential election of 1828 featured a rematch between John Quincy Adams, now incumbent President, and Andrew Jackson, the runner-up in the 1824 election. With no other major candidates, Jackson and his chief ally Martin Van Buren consolidated their bases in the South and New...
, Maxcy's friend John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
attempted to have him appointed as Treasurer of the United States
Treasurer of the United States
The Treasurer of the United States is an official in the United States Department of the Treasury that was originally charged with the receipt and custody of government funds, though many of these functions have been taken over by different bureaus of the Department of the Treasury...
, but Jackson and Secretary of the Treasury Samuel D. Ingham
Samuel D. Ingham
Samuel Delucenna Ingham was a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Treasury Secretary under President Andrew Jackson.-Early life and education:...
decided for political reasons to offer the position to John Campbell
John Campbell (US Treasurer)
John Campbell was the 5th Treasurer of the United States, serving under both Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren. He was in office from May 26, 1829 to July 20, 1839. Campbell has the distinction of being the first Treasurer to be born a citizen of the United States.-External links:* *...
. Instead, Maxcy received appointment as Solicitor of the Treasury
Solicitor of the United States Treasury
The Solicitor of the Treasury position was created in the United States Department of the Treasury by an act of May 29, 1830 , which changed the name of the Agent of the Treasury.-Function:...
, where he served from 1830 to 1837.
In 1837 President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
named William Haywood
William Henry Haywood, Jr.
William Henry Haywood, Jr. was a Democratic U.S. senator from the state of North Carolina between 1843 and 1846....
as US Chargé d'Affaires in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Haywood declined the appointment, and Van Buren then named Maxcy, who served until 1842.
Death and burial
Maxcy died near Fort Washington, MarylandFort Washington, Maryland
Fort Washington, Maryland is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland in the suburbs of the capital city of the United States of America, Washington, D.C., south of the downtown district. It is a prosperous community with an African American majority...
on February 28, 1844 as a result of the explosion on board the USS Princeton
USS Princeton Disaster of 1844
The USS Princeton Disaster of 1844 occurred on February 28 aboard the newly built USS Princeton when one of the ship's long guns, the "Peacemaker", then the world's longest naval gun, exploded during a display of the ship...
, which also killed four others, including two members of President John Tyler's
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
cabinet. Maxcy was struck by metal shards from the "Peacemaker" cannon, a large artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
piece made by John Ericsson
John Ericsson
John Ericsson was a Swedish-American inventor and mechanical engineer, as was his brother Nils Ericson. He was born at Långbanshyttan in Värmland, Sweden, but primarily came to be active in England and the United States...
which was being fired as part of a demonstration for visiting dignitaries. According to published accounts, Maxcy lost both arms and a leg in the explosion and was killed instantly.
Maxcy was originally entombed at Congressional Cemetery
Congressional Cemetery
The Congressional Cemetery is a historic cemetery located at 1801 E Street, SE, in Washington, D.C., on the west bank of the Anacostia River. It is the final resting place of thousands of individuals who helped form the nation and the city of Washington in the early 19th century. Many members of...
in Washington, D.C. He was subsequently reburied at Tulip Hill
Tulip Hill
Tulip Hill is a plantation house that was built between 1755 and 1756 one mile from Galesville in Anne Arundel County in the Province of Maryland. Tulip Hill was built before the American War of Independence....
, a large estate near Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
that was owned by his wife's family.
Personal
Virgil Maxcy was married to Mary Galloway, a member of one of Maryland's most prominent families. He was thus a wealthy man, with most of his fortune consisting of slaves and land.Maxcy was a longtime friend of John C. Calhoun
John C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
. They exchanged frequent letters, many of which have been published.
Other
Virgil Maxcy was the subject of a biography, 1981's A Federalist Converted: The Life of Virgil Maxcy of Maryland, 1785-1844, by Michael Cullen Reis.External Resources
- Find A Grave page, Virgil Maxcy, accessed April 2, 2011
- Find A Grave page, Mary Galloway Maxcy, accessed April 2, 2011
- Political Graveyard page, Virgil Maxcy, accessed April 2, 2011
- Newspaper article, Living History: William and Patrice Chaney at Home in Maryland’s Past, by Margaret Tearman, Bay Weekly, Volume 15, Issue 29 ~ July 19–25, 2007