Gov. George Howard

George Howard was the 22nd Governor of the State of Maryland in the United States from 1831 to 1833. Howard was well known as a fervent anti-Jacksonian during his term in office. He was the only son of a governor to have been elected governor.

He was born on November 21, 1789, in the Governor’s Mansion in Annapolis, the second son of Gov. John Eager Howard (1752–1827) and Margaret Oswald "Peggy" Chew. The family later lived at "Belvedere" in Baltimore County, Maryland where he was educated by tutors. On December 26, 1811, he married Prudence Gough Ridgely, a daughter of Gov. Charles Carnan Ridgely (1760–1829) of Hampton and Priscilla Dorsey (1762–1814). Priscilla descended from the Dorsey family of Maryland; one of the original families of Maryland and founders of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. They received "Waverly" near Woodstock, Maryland as a wedding gift from his father. They had fourteen children (nine boys and five girls).

At "Waverly," he led the life of a country gentleman and farmer. He was elected a member of the Governor’s Council in January 1831 and worked closely with his predecessor Daniel Martin. When Gov. Martin died in July 1831, Howard, as President of the Council, succeeded him, taking the oath of office on July 22 of that year. When Martin’s unexpired term ended in January 1832, the Maryland General Assembly elected Howard for a full-year term, receiving 64 of the 82 ballots cast. He advocated the establishment of a State Bank, opposed the doctrine of nullification, was a foe of lotteries, and urged the endowment of Maryland colleges.

Howard retired to "Waverly" following the end of his term. He served as a presidential elector in 1836 and 1840, when he supported the Whig candidate. He died at his home on August 2, 1846, and was probably buried first in the family burial ground at "Waverly." His remains were later removed to the Western Cemetery. His body was again removed, but its present resting place is unknown. He is believed to be buried in the Howard family vault at Old Saint Paul's Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland, where his father John Eager Howard is also buried. Howard left "Waverly" to his wife, Prudence. She died the following year and willed the estate to the couple's oldest son, George, Jr.

George Howard was painted by C. Gregory Stapko. His wife, Prudence Dorsey, was painted by Philip Tilyard. Her portrait can be found in the collection of Hampton National Historic Site HAMP 5662.