Gov James Black Groome

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Gov, Sen James Black Groome

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Elkton, Cecil, MD, United States
Death: October 05, 1893 (55)
Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
Place of Burial: Elkton, MD, United States
Immediate Family:

Son of John Charles Groome, Secretary State for Maryland and Elizabeth Riddle Black, of Elkton
Husband of Maria Groome and Alice Leeds Young
Father of Maria Edmondson Baylay
Brother of Maria Stokes Knight; Elizabeth Black Constable; Jane Sarah Black; William Henry Groome; Dr. Samuel Wilson Groome and 1 other

Occupation: U.S. senator and Maryland's 36th govenor, Lawyer, governor
Managed by: Marsha Gail Veazey
Last Updated:

About Gov James Black Groome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Black_Groome

James Black Groome (April 4, 1838 – October 5, 1893), a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 36th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1874 to 1876. He was also a member of the United State Senate, representing Maryland, from 1879–1885.

Early life and career

Groome was born in Elkton, Maryland and completed preparatory studies in the Tennent School of Hartsville, Pennsylvania, with hopes of attending Princeton University. However, a severe injury during that time that left him sickly the rest of his life forced him to abandon his college aspirations. Groome instead studied law with his father—the wealthy and former gubernatorial candidate Colonel John Groome—and was admitted to the bar in 1861. Due to his ill health, Groome did not serve during the American Civil War.

In 1867, Groome was a strong voice in favor of a new constitution for the state of Maryland, and served as a representative from Cecil County, Maryland to the state constitutional convention that same year. He was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1871, 1872, and 1873, and was highly regarded among his colleagues from the Maryland Eastern Shore. At one point in 1872, Groome was even considered as a candidate for the U.S. Senate by the House of Delegates.

Governor of Maryland and Senator

In 1874, the House of Delegates elected Governor William Pinkney Whyte to the U.S. Senate, leaving the governor's seat vacant. Groome was by far the most popular candidate in the special election that was held in the House of Delegates, and was elected governor at the age of 35, receiving 62 of the 70 votes cast. As governor, Groome's administration was rather unspectacular, as many of the necessary appointments had been made by his predecessor before his resignation. Groome even commented that he felt he had no other tasks besides attending banquets and awarding prizes and diplomas. Groome did make several recommendations to the legislature during his tenure, however, including the implementation of glass ballot boxes in elections to reduce fraud, and a full re-assessment of value and property of the state.

During the gubernatorial renomination process, Groome realized his chances of being re-elected were slim, mostly due to a serious argument he was involved in prior to the nomination convention. He withdrew his candidacy, and placed support with John Lee Carroll, who would win the election. Groome resumed the practice of law for a short while afterward his withdrawal, until he was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate, serving from March 4, 1879 to March 3, 1885. He served alongside Arthur P. Gorman and his gubernatorial predecessor William Pinkney Whyte.

Later years

After serving in the Senate, Groome was appointed by President Grover Cleveland as collector of customs for the port of Baltimore, Maryland, serving from 1889–1893. He spent much of his final years in his home in Baltimore, where he died in 1893. Groome is interred in Elkton Presbyterian Cemetery of Elkton, Maryland. A Baltimore Sun editorial commented, after his death, "few men have compassed so much in so short a time and without arousing animosities." Furthermore, Groome's local paper commented that he "was everybody’s friend ... The humblest could approach him without a sense of restraint, but none were so mighty as to feel disposed to trifle with him".

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Gov James Black Groome's Timeline

1838
April 4, 1838
Elkton, Cecil, MD, United States
1867
1867
Age 28
1872
1872
- 1876
Age 33
1874
1874
Age 35
1876
1877
February 9, 1877
1879
1879
- 1885
Age 40
1893
October 5, 1893
Age 55
Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
1896
1896
- 1900
Age 55