Stephen West, Jr. (1727–1790) was a merchant, plantation owner, and public official from Maryland. During the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

, he manufactured and sold guns, blankets, and other items to the American government, in addition to repairing gun locks and bayonets. He served as a representative from

Prince George's County ) , demonym = Prince Georgian , ZIP codes = 20607–20774 , area codes = 240, 301 , founded date = April 23 , founded year = 1696 , named for = Prince George of Denmark , leader_title = Executive , leader_name = Angela D. Alsobrook ...

at the Annapolis Convention in 1775 and in the

Maryland House of Delegates The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the legislature of the State of Maryland. It consists of 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. The House of Delegates Chamber is in the Maryland State House on State Circle in Annapolis, ...

from 1777 to 1778. He was elected as a delegate to the

Continental Congress The Continental Congress was a series of legislative bodies, with some executive function, for thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America, and the newly declared United States just before, during, and after the American Revolutionary War. ...

in 1780 but did not serve. He owned The Woodyard mansion, one of the largest in Maryland at the time. He had over 100 slaves to run his plantation. His grandson Richard West (son of General Stephen West III) married the sister of the wife of

Francis Scott Key Francis Scott Key (August 1, 1779January 11, 1843) was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet from Frederick, Maryland, who wrote the lyrics for the American national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner". Key observed the British bombardment ...

. It was Richard who notified Key that his neighbor had been arrested and taken to a British ship and asked Key to try to get him released. Thus the beginning of the "

Star Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the bo ...

". Stephen West, Jr. was the son of Stephen West, Sr. who arrived from England in Maryland in 1711. His father was a wealthy noble Englishman and sent his son off to America with a guaranteed income. Stephen West, Sr. settled in London Town, Maryland, was involved in shipping, and had a tavern and a ferry. London Town Museum has much information about Stephen West, Sr.

References

* 1727 births 1790 deaths Colonial American merchants Gunsmiths Members of the Maryland House of Delegates People from Prince George's County, Maryland People of Maryland in the American Revolution 18th-century American politicians {{Maryland-politician-stub