History of Chestertown, (Kent County) Maryland United States of America

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Biographies:

James Houston Eccleston, clergyman, was born in Chestertown, Md., May 10, 1837; son of John Bowen and Augusta (Chambers) Eccleston; grandson of Samuel Eccleston, and a descendant of John, the first immigrant. He was a nephew of Samuel Eccleston, R.C. archbishop of Baltimore, and brother of the Rev. John C. Eccleston, rector of St. John's parish, Staten Island, N.Y. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1856, studied theology at the Protestant Episcopal divinity school, West Philadelphia, Pa., was ordained a deacon, June 13, 1865, and a priest in June, 1866. He was rector of St. Matthew's and of the Church of the Saviour, Philadelphia. In 1875 he was elected bishop of Iowa, which position he refused to accept, there being some question as to the validity of the election. In 1877 he was elected bishop of the newly formed diocese of West Virginia, but declined to accept the position. He was subsequently rector of Emmanuel church and of the Church of the Atonement, Baltimore, Md., and was president of the standing committee of the diocese. He was elected dean of the Theological seminary of the diocese of Virginia in 1898. He received the degree of S.T.D. from Griswold college in 1873.

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

James Barroll Ricaud, jurist, was born in Baltimore, Md., Feb. 11, 1808. He attended St. Mary's college, Baltimore, Md., was admitted to the bar. and established himself in practice at Chestertown, Md. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1834?36; state senator, 1836?44; presidential elector on the Harrison and Tyler ticket in 1836, and on the Clay and Frelinghuysen ticket in 1844, and a Native American representative from Maryland in the 34th and 35th congresses, 1855?59. He was re-elected to the state senate in 1860, but resigned in 1864 on being appointed judge of the circuit court. He died at Chestertown, Md., Jan. 24, 1886.

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

Charles Willson Peale, artist, was born in Chestertown, Md., April 16, 1741; son of Charles Peale. He attended school in Annapolis, Md., 1750-54; was apprenticed to a saddler, and established himself in that business. His first attempt at painting was a likeness of himself, and his success led him to study under Hesselius, a German painter. He afterward studied under John Singleton Copley in Boston, 1768-69, and in 1770-74 in London under Benjamin West, who painted his portrait. On his return he painted portraits in Annapolis, 1774-75, and in Philadelphia, 1775-1827. Upon the outbreak of the Revolution he was appointed a lieutenant in a company of militia, and was later commissioned a captain. He led his company at the battles of Trenton and Princeton, and was one of the men selected to remove the public stores from Philadelphia when that city was in danger of capture by the British. He was a representative in the state legislature in 1779, and advocated a plan for the gradual abolition of slavery. In 1802 he opened Peale's museum, where he exhibited natural curiosities which ha had collected in his travels, and portraits which he owned or borrowed. He also gave lectures at the museum on natural history, and practised dentistry. He was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, to which he contributed largely. His versatility is shown in the titles of his books, which include: Building Wooden Bridges; Discourse Introductory to a Course of Lectures on Natural History; Epistles on the Means of Preserving Health, and Domestic Happiness. His fame as a portrait painter was national, Washington giving him sittings for fourteen portraits, one of which was painted for the College of New Jersey in 1780. Among his other portraits are those of Hancock, Morris, Steuben, Franklin, Greene, Gates, Jefferson, Hamilton, Monroe, Jackson, Calhoun and Clay. He also painted "Christ Healing the Sick," in 1829, and a full length portrait of himself in 1824, when eighty-three years of age. He left a collection of 269 portraits and historical scenes. His sons, Rembrandt and Raphaelle (1774-1825), were painters of portraits and of still life, and another son, Titian Ramsey (1800-1885) painted animal life, was a learned ornithologist and accompanied Wilkes on his explorations, 1839-42. Charles W. Peale died in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 22, 1827.

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

James Nicholson, naval officer, was born in Chestertown, Md., in 1737. His father emigrated from Berwick-on-Tweed, Scotland; held a grant of land in Virginia, and was an officer under the crown. James shipped as a sailor when a boy and was rapidly promoted, serving as an officer on the fleet that captured Havana in 1762. He resided in New York city, 1763-71, and was married to Frances Witter. In 1775 he enlisted in the Maryland navy, on board the Defiance, and after recapturing a number of American trading crafts taken by the British, was appointed commander of the sloop Virginia, 28 guns, in June, 1776. Upon the dismissal of Commodore Esek Hopkins , Captain Nicholson, as senior captain, succeeded him as commander-in-chief of the continental navy and held the position until its dissolution. The Virginia was prevented from escaping from Baltimore by the blockade maintained by the British, and Captain Nicholson, with his crew, joined General Washington's army at Trenton and took part in the battle at that place. He returned to his ship and in attempting to run the blockade she grounded on a bar and was captured, Captain Nicholson and most of his crew escaping to land. He was subjected to a court of inquiry by congress and acquitted of blame. He next commanded the frigate Trumbull, 38 guns, and on June 2, 1780, captured the British frigate Watt, and in August, 1781, fell in with the Iris and the General Monk off the capes of Delaware. Of the 120 men on board the Trumbull, many were English sailors who had shipped in order to capture the vessel, and they on the first discharge of a broadside fled into the hold of the vessel, followed by the landsmen, who comprised part of the crew. This left but fifty men to fight the two British frigates and after a desperate conflict, during which eighteen of the Americans were killed, Captain Nicholson was obliged to strike his colors. He was held a prisoner until near the close of the war. He returned to New York city, where he made his home, and was U.S. commissioner of loans, 1801-04. His brothers Samuel and John were both officers in the Continental navy, and his daughter Hannah married Albert Gallatin in 1793. He died in New York city, Sept. 2, 1804.

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