From 1774 to 1776, Maryland was governed by nine provincial conventions. On July 3, 1776, the Eighth Convention resolved that a new constitution be elected to form a new government "by the authority of the people only."

Delegates to the Ninth Convention, known now as the Constitutional Convention of 1776, were elected by propertied freemen on August 1, 1776. This Ninth Convention, which framed Maryland's first state constitution, assembled at Annapolis on August 14, 1776, and adjourned November 11, 1776.[1]

Matthew Tilghman, Chairman
Gabriel Duvall, Clerk

Annapolis Charles Carroll of Carrollton William Paca Anne Arundel County Charles Carroll, Barrister Samuel Chase John Hall Rezin Hammond Brice T.B. Worthington Baltimore County Thomas Cockey Deye Charles Ridgely Peter Shepherd John Stevenson Baltimore Town Jeremiah Townley Chase John Smith Calvert County William Fitzhugh Charles Grahame Benjamin Mackall IV John MacKall Caroline County Henry Dickinson Thomas Johnson Richard Mason Nathaniel Potter William Richardson

Charles County John Dent Robert Townshend Hooe John Parnham Thomas Semmens Cecil County Benjamin Brevard Patrick Ewing Joseph Gilpin David Smith Dorchester County John Ennalls Joseph Ennalls Robert Goldsborough James Murray Frederick County Samuel Beall William Bayly, Jr. Christopher Edelen Adam Fischer Samuel Hughes Henry Schnebeley Upton Sheredine David Shriver John Stull Elisha Williams Jonathan Willson Thomas Sprigg Wootton

Harford County John Archer Jacob Bond John Love Henry Wilson, Jr. Kent County Joseph Earle Thomas Ringgold William Ringgold Thomas Smyth Prince George's County Walter Bowie Benjamin Hall Thomas Sim Lee Luke Marbury Osborn Sprigg Queen Anne's County William Bruff James Kent Solomon Wright Turbutt Wright St. Mary's County Richard Barnes Ignatius Fenwick Jeremiah Jordan George Plater

Somerset County William Horsey Henry Lowes George Scott Gustavus Scott Talbot County James Lloyd Chamberlaine Pollard Edmondson John Gibson Matthew Tilghman Worcester County Smith Bishop Peter Chaille Samuel Handy Josiah E. Mitchell John Purnell Robins

[1] For further details concerning this convention, see A Biographical Dictionary of the Maryland Legislature, 1635-1789, vol. 1: A-H.

Source: Edward C. Papenfuse, et al., The Archives of Maryland, new series, An Historical List of Public Officials of Maryland, Vol. I. (Annapolis, MD: Maryland State Archives, 1990).

© Copyright May 05, 1999 Maryland State Archives