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Higher Office(s) Served: Representative, Senator

Military Service: Army

War(s) Served:  Revolutionary War

ROBERT WRIGHT was born in Queen Anne's County, Maryland on November 20, 1752. His education was attained in private academies, and at Kent County School (now Washington College), where he studied law. During the Revolutionary War, he enlisted as a private; he fought in several battles, and earned the rank of captain by the time he was mustered out in 1777. Wright entered politics in 1777, serving as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates. He also served as a member of the Maryland State Senate in 1801, and was a member of the U.S. Senate from 1801 to 1806. Wright was elected governor of Maryland on November 10, 1806. He was reelected to a second term in 1807, and to a third term in 1808. During his tenure, a bill was sanctioned that granted the governor the authority to purchase arms for the state militia. Also, a bill was passed for the establishment of a road from Cumberland to Ohio and the state militia was restructured. In an attempt to secure a seat on the Maryland Court of Appeals, Wright resigned from the governor's office on May 6, 1809, but was unsuccessful in obtaining the appointment. He then served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1810 to 1817 and 1821 to 1823. He also served as an associate justice of the Second District from 1823 to 1826. Governor Robert Wright passed away on September 7, 1826, and was buried in the family cemetery at "Cheston-on-Wye" in Queen Anne's County, Maryland.

Sources:

Eisenberg, Gerson G. Marylanders Who Served the Nation. Annapolis, MD: Maryland State Archives, 1992.

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978,Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

White, Frank F., Jr. The Governors of Maryland, 1777-1972. Annapolis, MD: Hall of Records Commission, 1970.

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Maryland State Archives