John Brice Jr. (1705–1766) was an early

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

settler and

Loyalist Loyalism, in the United Kingdom, its overseas territories and its former colonies, refers to the allegiance to the British crown or the United Kingdom. In North America, the most common usage of the term refers to loyalty to the British Cro ...

politician in

colonial Maryland The Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S. state of Maryland ...

. He was a member of the

Governor's Council The governments of the Thirteen Colonies of British America developed in the 17th and 18th centuries under the influence of the Constitution of the United Kingdom, British constitution. After the Thirteen Colonies had become the United States, the e ...

, 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 Anne Arundel County (; ), also notated as AA or A.A. County, is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 588,261, an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis, whi ...

. 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: *

John Brice III John Brice III (September 22, 1738 – July 1820) was an American lawyer, businessman and political leader from Annapolis, Maryland. He served on the Maryland state council and as mayor of Annapolis. Early life John was born in Annapolis and was ...

(1738–1820), lawyer and

Mayor of Annapolis The Mayor of Annapolis is the chief political figure in the city of Annapolis, which is the capital city of Maryland. The mayor is elected to a four-year term. List of Mayors of Annapolis *1708–1720 Amos Garrett *1720–1721 Thomas Lar ...

. *

James Brice James Brice (August 26, 1746 – July 11, 1801) was an American planter, lawyer, and politician from Annapolis, Maryland. He was Governor of Maryland in 1792, and one of the largest land owners on the east coast. James was born in Annapolis an ...

(1746–1801), Governor of Maryland. Both sons would go on to enjoy successful political careers.

Political career

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 Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...

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

(1755–1756 and 1762–1763).

Coming of Revolution

Brice held a number of Proprietary appointments and, politically, was a

. In 1766, Brice became embroiled in a war of words

Samuel Chase Samuel Chase (April 17, 1741 – June 19, 1811) was a Founding Father of the United States, a signatory to the Continental Association and United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Maryland, and an Associate Justice of th ...

, a vocal opponent of the Stamp Act and later a signer of the

American Declaration of Independence The United States Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America, is the pronouncement and founding document adopted by the Second Continental Congress meeting at Pennsylvania State House ...

. 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

would become Governor of a free

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

References