Hon. William Grafton Delaney Worthington IV (1785–1856) was an American lawyer, judge and state Governor, and Secretary of the Territory of East Florida.

Early life

William was born in 1785, the son of William Worthington (1747–1820) and Sarah Contee (1761–1825). His siblings included:

Thomas Contee Worthington Thomas Contee Worthington (November 25, 1782 – April 12, 1847) was an American politician who served as a United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative from Maryland. Early life Thomas Contee Worthington was born on Nov ...

(1782–1847), a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from Maryland, Sarah Matilda Worthington (1790–1854) and

Walter Brooke Cox Worthington Walter Brooke Cox Worthington (September 19, 1795 - 1845) was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Early life Walter Brooke Cox Worthington was born September 19, 1795 at "The Valley", near Nottingham, Maryland. He was the son of William ...

(1795–1845), a member of 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, ...

. His maternal grandparents were Sarah Fendall (1732–1793) and

Thomas Contee Thomas Contee (–1811) of "Brookefield", near Nottingham, Prince George's County, Maryland, was an American patriot who held the rank of colonel, militia man, politician, planter. Early life Thomas Contee was born at "Brookefield" in Prince Ge ...

(1729–1793), himself the grandson of

Thomas Brooke Jr. Colonel Thomas Brooke Jr. of Brookefield (1660 – 1731) was President of the Council in Maryland and acting 13th Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland. He was the son of Major Thomas Brooke Sr. and Esquire (1632–1676) and his ...

(1660–1730). Through his maternal grandfather's sister, Jane Contee (1726–1812), who was married to John Hanson (1721–1783), 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. ...

who signed the

Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was an agreement among the 13 Colonies of the United States of America that served as its first frame of government. It was approved after much debate (between July 1776 and November 1777) by ...

and served as the 9th President of the Continental Congress, he was related to Alexander Contee Hanson (1786–1819), also a U.S. Representative, and later, U.S. Senator from

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 ...

. Worthington was taken by his parents while very young to their home near Nottingham, when they removed to

Prince George's County, Maryland ) , 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. Alsobroo ...

. He was a student at St. John's College in Annapolis, and from there went to Baltimore in 1804, where he read law.

Career

Worthington was admitted to practice before the courts of Baltimore when he was twenty-one. His ability, legal knowledge, and eloquence rapidly brought him into prominence. In 1807 he received the appointment as adjutant on the Governor's staff. In 1809 he was nominated and elected by a large majority to represent Baltimore City in the Legislature.

Political career

After his marriage to Eliza, he inherited a landed estate from his grandfather, Col.

, and removed to Prince George's County. For a number of years he resided in Nottingham, and devoted himself to agriculture. However, this life was not stirring enough for his active mind, and in 1813 he was elected State Senator, for Prince George's County. In 1815, Worthington was appointed Comptroller of the United States Treasury, to fill an existing vacancy, and for the next two years resided in Georgetown, D.C. In 1817 President

James Madison James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for hi ...

appointed him a special representative of this Government, to

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires ( or ; ), officially the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires ( es, link=no, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires), is the capital and primate city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the Río de la Plata, on South ...

Santiago de Chile Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile as well as one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is the center of Chile's most densely populated region, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, whose ...

, and

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

. Worthington was also sent as special envoy to

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

, being the first U.S. representative to that country. His commission was signed by James Monroe, Secretary of State. In a speech made some thirty years later, Worthington referred to this journey which was made through South America, principally on horseback. He said "''I trod the sun-burnt Pampas, and climbed the snow clad peaks of the Andes''". In 1821, President James Monroe appointed him Governor and Secretary of the

Territory of East Florida The Republic of East Florida, also known as the Republic of Florida or the Territory of East Florida, was a putative republic declared by insurgents against the Spanish rule of East Florida, most of whom were from Georgia (U.S. state), Georgi ...

, and he resided for two years in St. Augustine, where his eldest son was born. In 1823, he returned to Baltimore, and was nominated by the Whigs for Congress, but was defeated by the Democratic candidate. The next year he was elected to the Legislature, and again the succeeding year. In 1826 he was urged to accept the nomination for Governor, but refused to be a candidate. In 1827, and again in 1828 he was appointed by the Governor, Commissioner for Insolvent Debtors for Baltimore City. In 1830 he was appointed Associate Judge of the Baltimore City Courts, and held that position for several years. After he retired from the bench he went to Spain, and from there to Greece, having in charge some matters entrusted to him by the State Department. He was the recipient of some attention in Athens because of the position he had taken regarding Greek independence when he was in the Legislature. After his return from Europe, Judge Worthington resumed his practice of law in Baltimore, until his death in 1856.

Personal life

Worthington married Eliza Chaytor (1794–1834) on 6 Oct 1810,Maryland Marriages, 1801-1820, p. 203, "Worthington, Wm. G. D.; 6 Oct 1810, Eliza Chaytor (03 BA-502)" only daughter of Commodore James Chaytor. Together, they had: * Julia Maria Worthington (1811–1864), who married Col. John Henry Waring (1809–1871), son of Lt. John Waring Jr. (ca. 1767-1815) and Elizabeth Margaret Bowie (1780–1854). * Eliza Jordan Worthington (d. 1868), who married Dr. Henry Brooke IV (ca. 1805), son of Henry Brooke III (ca. 1765-1825) and Harriet Sophia Brown. * Dr. Augustine Thomas Contee Worthington (b. 1822), who married Katherine Sara Duval (1824-1910), daughter of James Seriphim Duval Jr. (1802-1833) and Malinda Ellen Rosegrant (1806-1882). * James Chaytor Worthington (1827–1854), who married Francis "Fannie" Ann Griffith. * Alexander Contee Worthington Sr. (1825–1904), who married Eveline Isabelle "Eve" Love. * Henry Worthington

Ancestry

William was the son of William Worthington (1747–1820) and

Jane Contee Jane may refer to: * Jane (given name), a feminine given name * Jane (surname), related to the given name Film and television * ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd * ''Jane'' (2016 film), a South Korean drama fil ...

(1761–1825). Jane was the daughter of Col.

(1729–1811) and Sarah Fendall (1732–1793). William was the son of Vornel Worthington (1719–1749) and Ann Hammond (1730). Ann was the daughter of Thomas John Hammond and Anne Cockey (1704). Vornel was the son of William Worthington Sr. (1694–1770) and Sarah Homewood (1700). Sarah was the daughter of Capt. James Homewood and Mary Peasley. William Sr., was the son of Capt. John Worthington (1650–1701) and Sarah Howard (d. 1726), who married 2nd, Capt. John Brice, Gent. (d. 1713). Sarah was the daughter of Matthew Howard II (ca. 1640-1692) and Sarah Dorsey. John was the son of Francis Worthington (1624) and Sarah Byron (1625–1664). Francis was the son of

Roger Worthington Roger is a given name, usually masculine, and a surname. The given name is derived from the Old French personal names ' and '. These names are of Germanic origin, derived from the elements ', ''χrōþi'' ("fame", "renown", "honour") and ', ' ...

(1593–1649) and Katherine Haywood (1587–1651). Roger was the son of Thomas Worthington (1570–1626) and Agnes Gillebrand (1570–1626). Thomas was the son of

(ca. 1544-1604) and Margaret Brownlowe (ca. 1547-1640).

References

;Notes ;Sources *Fendall, Douglas Allen. ''The Descendants of Governor Josias Fendall'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Worthington, William Grafton Delaney Fendall family 1785 births Members of the Maryland House of Delegates Maryland lawyers Governors of Florida Florida Whigs 19th-century American politicians 1856 deaths Contee family