John Francis Mercer

John Francis Mercer
Portrait by Robert Field, 1803
10th Governor of Maryland
In office
November 10, 1801 – November 13, 1803
Preceded byBenjamin Ogle
Succeeded byRobert Bowie
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 2nd district
In office
March 4, 1793 – April 13, 1794
Preceded byWilliam Hindman
Succeeded byGabriel Duvall
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maryland's 3rd district
In office
February 5, 1792 – March 3, 1793
Preceded byWilliam Pinkney
Succeeded byUriah Forrest
Member of the Lower House of the Maryland General Assembly for Anne Arundel County
In office
1800-1801, 1803-1805
In office
1788-1792
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Stafford County
In office
October 1785 – January, 1786
Serving with William Garrard
Preceded byWilliam Brent
Succeeded byAndrew Buchannan
Member of the Continental Congress for Virginia
In office
1782–1785
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Stafford County
In office
May 1782 – December 1782
Serving with Charles Carter
Preceded byThomas Mountjoy
Succeeded byThomson Mason
Personal details
Born(1759-05-17)May 17, 1759
Stafford County, Colony of Virginia, British America
DiedAugust 30, 1821(1821-08-30) (aged 62)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting placeCedar Park Estate, Galesville, Maryland
NationalityAmerican
Political partyAnti-Federalist (1782), Federalist (1801)
SpouseSophia Sprigg
RelationsJohn Mercer, James Mercer, George Mercer
Children4, including Margaret Mercer, John Mercer Jr.
ResidenceAnne Arundel County, Maryland
Alma materCollege of William and Mary
OccupationLawyer, politician
Military service
Allegiance Continental Army
 United States Army
Rank Lieutenant colonel
Unit3rd Virginia Regiment
Virginia militia
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War
Battle of Brandywine  (WIA)
Battle of Guilford

John Francis Mercer (May 17, 1759 – August 30, 1821) was a Founding Father of the United States, politician, lawyer, planter, and slave owner from Virginia and Maryland. An officer during the Revolutionary War, Mercer initially served in the Virginia House of Delegates and then the Maryland State Assembly. As a member of the assembly, he was appointed a delegate from Maryland to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, where he was a framer of the U.S. Constitution though he left the convention before signing. Mercer was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from two different districts in Maryland. In 1801—1803, he served as Maryland's 10th governor.[1][2]

  1. ^ Papenfuse, Edward C.; Day, Alan F.; Jordan, David W.; Stiverson, Gregory A. (1979). A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature 1635-1789. Vol. 2. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 594. ISBN 0-8018-1995-4.
  2. ^