- Robert Alexander
Robert Alexander (c.1740-1805) was an American planter, lawyer, and
Tory political leader during theAmerican Revolution . He was a delegate to theContinental Congress forMaryland in 1776.Background
Robert was born on his family's estate at "Head of Elk" in
Cecil County, Maryland about 1740. He was educated to the law and admitted to the bar, and practiced in Baltimore. From 1774 to 1776, he attended theAnnapolis Convention as a representative ofBaltimore County . He also represented Baltimore in the state's "Committee of Safety".On December 9, 1775 the Convention named Alexander one of their delegates to the
Continental Congress . He attended sessions starting in January of 1776, and on January 16th the Congress added him to their "Secret Committee". Then in April he was added to the Marine Committee. He was re-elected, 4 July, 1776, but soon after the promulgation of the Declaration of Independence he sailed for England with other Baltimore loyalists.In August of 1777, after British forces had landed at Head of Elk, he was visited at his home, first by
George Washington on the 27th, and then by British General Howe three days later. When the British moved north towards Philadelphia he accompanied them, and was never to return. By the summer of 1778, when Howe abandoned the occupation of Philadelphia, Alexander fled to theRoyal Navy , and made his way toLondon in 1782.In 1780, the State of Maryland judged Alexander guilty of
high treason , and seized most of his property. His estate became the townElkton, Maryland , although the wife he had abandoned was allowed to keep the main house that his father had built in 1735. The house still stands, and is located at 323 Hermitage Drive in Elkton.Alexander died in exile in London, England on November 20, 1805.
Further reading
*Janet B. Johnson; "Robert Alexander, Maryland Loyalist";"1942; reprinted 1969 by Irvington Publishing, ISBN 0-8398-0960-3.
References
External links
* [http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000101 Alexander's Congressional Biography]
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