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John Brice Jr.

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(Redirected from John Brice, Jr.) American mayor (1705–1766) For other people named John Brice, see John Brice (disambiguation).
John Brice
Mayor of Annapolis
In office
1755–1756
Preceded byBenjamin Tasker Jr.
Succeeded byGeorge H. Steuart
Mayor of Annapolis
In office
1762–1763
Preceded byStephen Bordley
Succeeded byGeorge H. Steuart
Judge of the Maryland Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
1751
Member, Governor's Council
Personal details
Born1705
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Died1766
SpouseSarah Frisby
ChildrenJohn Brice III
James Brice
Occupationpolitician

John Brice Jr. (1705–1766) 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 1705 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. His father John Brice and mother Sarah Brice (née Howard) were already prominent settlers.

Marriage and family

Brice married Sarah Frisby in 1730 and had a number of children, including:

Both sons would go on to enjoy successful political careers.

Political career

Samuel Chase, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Brice's implacable opponent.

John Jr. entered public service as the clerk of Anne Arundel County in 1738 and served in that post for many years. He enter politics as an alderman in Annapolis shortly after. He was appointed to the Maryland Court in 1751 and was named to the Governor's Council. He would serve in both offices until his death, and by the end of his term on the court he was the chief justice. He served twice as the Mayor of Annapolis (1755–1756 and 1762–1763).

Coming of Revolution

Coat of Arms of John Brice

Brice held a number of Proprietary appointments and, politically, was a Loyalist. In 1766, Brice 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 (the year of Brice's death) Chase attacked Brice, Walter Dulany, George Steuart (1700–1784), 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 Brice and the others of "vanity...pride and arrogance", and of being brought to power by "proprietary influence, court favour, and the wealth and influence of the tools and favourites who infest this city." In particular Chase accused Brice of "spleen and bitterness", and a "passion for wealth" which had led him into "formidable frowns and opposition" to Chase.

Legacy

Brice died in 1766 and hence did not live to see the end of British rule in Maryland. However, both of Brice's sons would follow him into politics. Both were elected to terms as Mayor of Annapolis, and in addition James Brice would become Governor of a free Maryland.

See also

References

  1. ^ Sanderson, John J (1823). Biography of the Signers To the Declaration of Independence Volume 5. R W Pomery. p. 67. Retrieved Jan 21, 2010. george steuart.
Preceded byBenjamin Tasker Jr. Mayor of Annapolis
1755–1756 		Succeeded byBenjamin Tasker Sr.
Preceded byStephen Bordley Mayor of Annapolis
1762–1763 		Succeeded byGeorge Steuart
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