George Plater
Encyclopedia
George Plater was an American
planter, lawyer, and statesman from Saint Mary's County, Maryland
. He represented Maryland
in the Continental Congress
from 1778 to 1780, and briefly served as the sixth Governor of Maryland
in 1791 and 1792.
. His father (also George) had married Rebecca Addison Bowles, the widow of the plantation's founder, in 1729. After receiving his early schooling at home, he attended William and Mary
in Williamsburg, Virginia
, graduating in 1752. He read law and was admitted to the bar.
neared, he represented St. Mary's County in the Annapolis Convention, which became a revolutionary government. When the ninth convention met in August of 1776, Plater was on the committee which drafted Maryland's first Constitution.
Under the new constitution, Plater served in the Maryland State Senate from 1777 until 1790. Maryland sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress
in 1778, and he represented his state through 1780.
When Maryland held a convention to consider the U.S. Constitution
, Plater attended and was the president of the convention when they voted for ratification on April 28, 1788. The following year he was chosen as a Presidential elector. However, he did not vote.
In late 1791 Plater was elected Governor, and took office in December. However, his term was short; he died after less than three months in office.
(which he helped to found and build).
He was married to Elizabeth Rousby, and they had six children: Rebecca, George, John, Thomas, Edward, and Ann. Rebecca was the grandmother of Alice Green, wife of H.H. Prince Don Angel Maria de Iturbide y Huarte, who were in turn the parents of H.H. Prince Don Agustín de Iturbide y Green
- Head of the Imperial House of Mexico. George Plater's son John Rousby Plater was a lawyer and judge and another son Thomas
was a lawyer and would go on to represent Maryland in the United States House of Representatives
. The eldest daughter, Rebecca married Uriah Forrest
, statesman and military leader. Daughter Ann married Philip Barton Key. Their daughter Elizabeth Rousby Key was the wife of Louisiana's fifth governor, Henry Johnson
and a first cousin to Francis Scott Key
.
When Plater died on February 10, 1792 in Annapolis, Maryland
his body was returned home and buried at Sotterley, which still stands on the banks of the Patuxent River
in St. Mary's County. The house is maintained and operated as a museum by a foundation created for that purpose. The property is on Route 245, just outside of Hollywood, Maryland
and is open to visitors during the summer (An entrance fee is charged).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
planter, lawyer, and statesman from Saint Mary's County, Maryland
Saint Mary's County, Maryland
Saint Mary's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland.As of 2010, the population was 105,151. Its county seat is Leonardtown...
. He represented Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
from 1778 to 1780, and briefly served as the sixth Governor of Maryland
Governor of Maryland
The Governor of Maryland heads the executive branch of the government of Maryland, and he is the commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard units. The Governor is the highest-ranking official in the state, and he has a broad range of appointive powers in both the State and local governments,...
in 1791 and 1792.
Early life and education
Plater was born on the family plantation of Sotterley, near Leonardtown, MarylandLeonardtown, Maryland
Leonardtown is a town in and the county seat of St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,896 at the 2000 census. Leonardtown is perhaps most famous for the national oyster-shucking championship that occurs annually at the St...
. His father (also George) had married Rebecca Addison Bowles, the widow of the plantation's founder, in 1729. After receiving his early schooling at home, he attended William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, graduating in 1752. He read law and was admitted to the bar.
Political career
Plater was first elected to Maryland's colonial Assembly in 1758, and served as a member for many years. He served on the Governor's Council in 1773 and 1774. As the RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
neared, he represented St. Mary's County in the Annapolis Convention, which became a revolutionary government. When the ninth convention met in August of 1776, Plater was on the committee which drafted Maryland's first Constitution.
Under the new constitution, Plater served in the Maryland State Senate from 1777 until 1790. Maryland sent him as a delegate to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1778, and he represented his state through 1780.
When Maryland held a convention to consider the U.S. Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, Plater attended and was the president of the convention when they voted for ratification on April 28, 1788. The following year he was chosen as a Presidential elector. However, he did not vote.
In late 1791 Plater was elected Governor, and took office in December. However, his term was short; he died after less than three months in office.
Personal life
Plater was an active churchman who served twenty-eight years as a vestryman of St. Andrew's Episcopal ChurchSt. Andrew's Church (Leonardtown, Maryland)
St. Andrew's Church is an historic church located at 44078 St. Andrew's Church Road, California near Leonardtown, St. Mary's County, Maryland. It was built in 1766 to serve as the parish church of St. Andrew's Parish, which had been established in 1744...
(which he helped to found and build).
He was married to Elizabeth Rousby, and they had six children: Rebecca, George, John, Thomas, Edward, and Ann. Rebecca was the grandmother of Alice Green, wife of H.H. Prince Don Angel Maria de Iturbide y Huarte, who were in turn the parents of H.H. Prince Don Agustín de Iturbide y Green
Agustín de Iturbide y Green
Don Agustín de Iturbide y Green, Prince of Iturbide was the grandson of Agustín de Iturbide, the first emperor of independent Mexico, and his consort Empress Ana María...
- Head of the Imperial House of Mexico. George Plater's son John Rousby Plater was a lawyer and judge and another son Thomas
Thomas Plater
Thomas Plater was an American lawyer and politician from Maryland. He represented the third district of Maryland in the U.S. House from 1801 to 1805....
was a lawyer and would go on to represent Maryland in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. The eldest daughter, Rebecca married Uriah Forrest
Uriah Forrest
Uriah Forrest was an American statesman and military leader from Maryland. Forrest was born in St. Mary's County in southern Maryland. During the American Revolutionary War, Forrest was injured and lost a leg in the Battle of Germantown...
, statesman and military leader. Daughter Ann married Philip Barton Key. Their daughter Elizabeth Rousby Key was the wife of Louisiana's fifth governor, Henry Johnson
Henry Johnson
Henry Johnson may refer to:*Henry Johnson , member of Parliament for Aldeburgh 1689–1719*Henry Johnson , American jazz musician*Henry Johnson...
and a first cousin to Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
.
When Plater died on February 10, 1792 in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
his body was returned home and buried at Sotterley, which still stands on the banks of the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
in St. Mary's County. The house is maintained and operated as a museum by a foundation created for that purpose. The property is on Route 245, just outside of Hollywood, Maryland
Hollywood, Maryland
Hollywood is an unincorporated community located within St. Mary's County, Maryland. It was named in 1867, when a storeowner at Thompson's General Store near the Uniontown section of Hollywood required a name for the post office inside the store...
and is open to visitors during the summer (An entrance fee is charged).