 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(February 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Joseph Kent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Senator fromMaryland | |
| In office March 4, 1833 – November 24, 1837 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Smith |
| Succeeded by | William D. Merrick |
| 19th Governor of Maryland | |
| In office January 9, 1826 – January 15, 1829 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Stevens, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Daniel Martin |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1811 – March 3, 1815 | |
| Preceded by | Archibald Van Horne |
| Succeeded by | John Carlyle Herbert |
| In office March 4, 1819 – January 6, 1826 | |
| Preceded by | John Carlyle Herbert |
| Succeeded by | John Crompton Weems |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1779-01-14)January 14, 1779 |
| Died | November 24, 1837(1837-11-24) (aged 58) |
| Party | Whig |
Joseph Kent (January 14, 1779 – November 24, 1837) was an American politician and planter who was aUnited States senator fromMaryland, serving from 1833 until his death in 1837. He also served in theHouse of Representatives, representing the2nd congressional district of Maryland from 1811 to 1815 and again from 1819 to 1826, and as the19th governor of Maryland from 1826 to 1829.
Born on January 14, 1779, inCalvert County, Maryland. He was the son of Daniel Kent, Sr. (1754–1805) and Anne Weems Wheeler (1761–1823). Joseph Kent received a liberal schooling at Lower Marlboro Academy, and studied medicine. He was admitted to medical practice inLower Marlborough, Calvert County in 1799 with a Doctor Parran, but ceased relations with Parran after a political disagreement in 1801.
Joseph married first, Eleanor Lee Contee Wallace (1782–1826) on October 30, 1804. Eleanor was born December 9, 1782, inPrince George's County, Maryland. She died August 14, 1826. Eleanor was the daughter Dr. Michael Wallace, Jr., Esq. (1749–1794) and Eleanor Lee Contee (1758–1786). Their daughter, Adelaide MacKubin Kent, would marryThomas Pratt, another Governor of Maryland and U.S. Senator.
Kent purchased a 300-acre (1.2 km2)slave plantation named "Rosemount" nearBladensburg, Maryland, and settled there around 1807. "Rosemount" is part of the large estate, "Park Hall", owned by the Gantt family in 1735, about which time it was divided and sold. Joseph gave the name "Rosemount". He was passionately fond of roses and the old terraced garden was kept profusely planted with lilies and roses, justifying his choice of the new name he had given his home.
He continued the practice of medicine and also engaged in farming on his estate. In 1807, Dr. Kent removed to the vicinity of Bladensburg and entered the Maryland State Militia as a Surgeon's mate, in the 34th Regiment of the Maryland Militia. In 1809, he was made a full surgeon, but resigned. In the militia, Kent received the rank of a Lieutenant Colonel, and finally as a Colonel of the Cavalry of the 2nd Maryland Militia Cavalry.
Joseph presided at the first public meeting in Washington for the organization of theChesapeake and Ohio Canal, in which he became a director.
Turning to politics, Joseph was elected to the United States Congress in 1810 taking his seat on March 4, 1811, and served several years until March 3, 1815. Though aFederalist, opposingWar with Great Britain, he voted with the Republican party in declaring War. He was aPresidential Elector in 1816, casting his vote for James Monroe (1758–1831). He later broke with the Federalist party and by the time of the next election he was aDemocratic-Republican, in which he was elected to another term in the House of Representatives from March 4, 1819, until he resigned on January 6, 1826. In his second tenure in Congress, Kent continued as chairman of theCommittee on the District of Columbia.
Joseph was elected Governor of Maryland in 1826. The primary goal of Kent's administration as governor was to work towardinternal improvements. He was in support of improving internal transportation, including expanding theChesapeake and Ohio Canal and theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad. The immense cost of these projects, however, were never fully repudiated until several decades after Kent's administration, and placed the state under immense financial burden for many years afterwards.
Other areas of interest for Kent includedprison reform, separating presidential voting into districts, and for increased funding for schools and colleges. He also sought to improve the maintenance of the state's records, "so indispensably necessary to its correct history" as he said.
Joseph married Alice Lee Contee (1803–1868) on July 8, 1828, at "Bromont", near Newburg, Charles Co., Maryland. Alice was born at "Bromont", near Newburg, Charles Co., Maryland. She died August 24, 1868. Alice was the a first cousin of Joseph's first wife, Eleanor Lee Contee Wallace (1782–1826). Alice was the daughter of Capt. Benjamin Contee, Rev., Hon. (1755–1815) and Sarah Russell Lee (1766–1810).
Kent was elected as a Republican (later Whig) to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1833, until his death at his home, "Rosemount," near Bladensburg. He served as chairman of theSenate Committee on the District of Columbia (Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Congresses). As senator, Kent was opposed to theBank of the United States, and offered a resolution asking for negotiations with France regarding lower tobacco prices and restricting the importing of tobacco. However, although this resolution passed, it was not widely popular.
Due to ill health, Kent attended only four sessions of the Senate, and died in 1837 as a result of a fall from his horse. He is buried in an unmarked grave at his home of "Rosemount".
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's 2nd congressional district 1811–1815 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMaryland's 2nd congressional district 1819–1826 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Maryland 1826–1829 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. Senate | ||
| Preceded by | U.S. senator (Class 1) from Maryland 1833–1837 Served alongside:Ezekiel F. Chambers,Robert H. Goldsborough,John S. Spence | Succeeded by |
| Class 1 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
