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Military Service: National Guard

War(s) Served:  Revolutionary War

James Brice, acting governor of Maryland, was born in Annapolis, Maryland on August 26, 1746. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1765, and established legal practices in Baltimore, Frederick, and Prince George's counties. Along with his legal career, Brice was a planter who had extensive land holdings. He entered politics in 1777, serving as a member of the Executive Council, a position he held until 1799. He served as the Anne Arundel County lieutenant in 1777, as well as serving as the Anne Arundel County tax commissioner from 1777 to 1779. He served as an Annapolis alderman from 1780 to 1782, 1784 to 1787 and 1789 to 1792, and was the mayor of Annapolis from 1782 to 1783 and 1787 to 1788. He also served as the treasurer of Annapolis from 1784 to 1801, and was a Maryland Senate elector in 1786 and 1791. On February 10, 1792, Maryland Governor George Plater passed away. The legislature then named Brice to serve as acting governor, a position in which his only act--by law--was to convene an election for a new governor. In 1793, he was elected to serve as common councilman for Annapolis, a post he held for eight years. James Brice passed away on July 11, 1801.

Sources:

Papenfuse, Edward C., et. al. A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789. Volume 1. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979.

Maryland State Archives

James Brice House

The Political Graveyard