William Duhurst Merrick
Encyclopedia
William Duhurst Merrick (October 25, 1793 February 5, 1857) was a United States Senator
from Maryland
, serving from 1838 to 1845.
Merrick was born in Annapolis, Maryland
and completed preparatory studies. He later graduated from Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.
.
Merrick held several local offices and served in the War of 1812
. He was the register of wills of Charles County, Maryland
from 1825 to 1832. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
, and commenced practice in Port Tobacco, Maryland.
From 1832 to 1838, Merrick served in the Maryland House of Delegates
. He was elected as a Whig
to the United States Senate
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Joseph Kent
. He was reelected in 1839 and served from January 4, 1838 to March 3, 1845. In the Senate, Kent served as chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia
(Twenty-sixth
and Twenty-seventh
Congresses), as a member of the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads (Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth
Congresses).
After his service in the Senate, Merrick served as a member of the State constitutional convention in 1850. He was again elected to the House of Delegates, and served from January 1856 until his death in Washington, D.C.
Merrick was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery
, then reinterred in the cemetery at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Newport
. His sons, William Matthew Merrick
and Richard T. Merrick
, were also prominent attorneys.
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...
from 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...
, serving from 1838 to 1845.
Merrick was born in 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...
and completed preparatory studies. He later graduated from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Merrick held several local offices and served in 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 the register of wills of Charles County, Maryland
Charles County, Maryland
Charles County is a county in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 146,551. Its county seat is La Plata. This county was named for Charles Calvert , third Baron Baltimore....
from 1825 to 1832. He studied law, was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
, and commenced practice in Port Tobacco, Maryland.
From 1832 to 1838, Merrick served in 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...
. He was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
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...
to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Joseph Kent
Joseph Kent
Joseph Kent , a Whig, was a United States Senator from Maryland, serving from 1833 until his death in 1837...
. He was reelected in 1839 and served from January 4, 1838 to March 3, 1845. In the Senate, Kent served as chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia
United States Senate Committee on the District of Columbia
The United States Senate Committee on the District of Columbia was one of the first standing committees created in the United States Senate, in 1816. It had jurisdiction over the District of Columbia...
(Twenty-sixth
26th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :*President: Richard M. Johnson *President pro tempore: William R. King - House of Representatives :*Speaker: Robert M.T. Hunter -Members:This list is arranged by chamber, then by state...
and Twenty-seventh
27th United States Congress
The Twenty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843, during the one-month...
Congresses), as a member of the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads (Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth
28th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Following the 1840 United States Census, Congress reapportioned the House to include 223 seats . During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Florida .- Senate :*President: Vacant...
Congresses).
After his service in the Senate, Merrick served as a member of the State constitutional convention in 1850. He was again elected to the House of Delegates, and served from January 1856 until his death in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Merrick was interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery
Mount Olivet Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)
Mount Olivet Cemetery is an historic cemetery located at 1300 Bladensburg Road, NE in Washington, D.C. It is maintained by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.-Notable interments:* George W. Harvey , Washington restaurateur...
, then reinterred in the cemetery at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Newport
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Newport
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Newport is a historic church located at Newport, Charles County, Maryland. It was built about 1840, and converted for use as a parish hall in 1906. It is a rectangular brick structure, four bays in length and three bays wide. It is of simple architectural styling...
. His sons, William Matthew Merrick
William Matthew Merrick
William Matthew Merrick was a United States Circuit Court judge for the District of Columbia and congressman from the fifth district of the state of Maryland.-Early life, career, and family:...
and Richard T. Merrick
Richard T. Merrick
Richard Thomas Merrick was a lawyer and Democratic political figure.Born in Charles County, Maryland, Merrick was the son of William D. Merrick, a member of the Maryland legislature and the United States Senate. His brother, William M. Merrick, was a federal judge and congressman from Maryland...
, were also prominent attorneys.