History of Rose Hill, (Calvert County) Maryland United States of America

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Thomas Johnson, governor of Maryland, was born at St. Leonard's, Md., Nov. 4, 1732; son of Thomas and Dorcas (Sedgwick) Johnson and grandson of Thomas and Mary (Baker) Johnson, who immigrated to America from England about 1700. He was admitted to the bar and practised in Maryland. He represented Anne Arundel county in the house of delegates, 1762-63, where he opposed the stamp act. He was married, Feb. 16, 1766, to Anne, daughter of Judge Thomas Johnson, of Annapolis, Md. He was a member of the committee of correspondence, a member of the council of safety, drew up an address to the king, October; 1774 and it was through his influence that the deputies from Maryland in congress were instructed Jan. 28, 1776, to declare their independence of Great Britain. He became interested in the scheme for improving the navigation of the Potomac river in 1774 and he founded the Potomac company. He was a member of the Annapolis convention, June, 1774; a delegate from Maryland to the Continental congress by repeated elections, 1774-77, and nominated George Washington for commander-in-chief of all the continental forces raised or to be raised for the defence of American liberty, June 15, 1775. He was elected senior brigadier-general of the provincial forces, Jan. 5, 1776, and organized and personally led the "Flying Camp," a company of 1800 militia-men, to General Washington's relief during his retreat through New Jersey. He was constrained to withdraw from the army by petition of the convention of Maryland, Nov. 10, 1776, that he might continue to represent the province in congress. When the Declaration of Independence was adopted, July 4, 1776, he was present and voted for the measure, but on Aug. 2, 1776, when the instrument was signed he was absent on account of illness in his family, and his name does not appear on the document. He was elected the first governor of Maryland, Feb. 13, 1777, serving two years, when he retired from public life. He was appointed by President Washington associate justice of the U.S. supreme court, in place of John Rutledge, resigned, and he discharged the duties, 1791-93, when he resigned. He declined the cabinet position of secretary of state, offered by President Washington, Aug. 24, 1795. He was appointed a commissioner to lay out the streets of Washington, D.C., and to select the sites of the capitol, President's house, and other public buildings. He died at Rose Hill, Md., Oct. 26, 1819.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Rose Hill, (Calvert County) Maryland

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