John Hoskins Stone | |
|---|---|
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| 7th Governor of Maryland | |
| In office November 14, 1794 – November 17, 1797 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas S. Lee |
| Succeeded by | John Henry |
| Member of theMaryland House of Delegates | |
| In office 1785–1787 | |
| In office 1790 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1749-07-17)July 17, 1749[citation needed] |
| Died | October 5, 1804(1804-10-05) (aged 55) Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Federalist |
| Spouse | Anne Couden |
John Hoskins Stone (July 17, 1749[citation needed] – October 5, 1804) was anAmerican planter, soldier, and politician fromCharles County, Maryland. During theRevolutionary War he led the 1st Maryland Regiment of theContinental Army. After the war he served in the state legislature and was theseventh Governor from 1794 to 1797.
John was born at his father's plantation ofPoynton Manor in Charles County. His family had been prominent since early colonial days whenWilliam Stone had served as governor a hundred years before his birth. His parents were David and Elizabeth (Jenifer) Stone. His elder brothers includedThomas (who signed theDeclaration of Independence) andMichael (who represented Maryland in theU.S. Congress).[1] The Jenifer family was ofSwedish origin.[2][3][4]
John had been baptized in theAnglican Church. After the split caused by the revolution he was an activeEpiscopalian. He married Anne Couden in February 1781, and the couple would have six children, five of whom lived to adulthood: Couden, Anne, Elizabeth, Robert Couden, and Thomas.
In 1775, Stone joined the newly organized Maryland Battalion led by ColonelWilliam Smallwood as a lieutenant. He was soon promoted to captain of the battalion's first company. The battalion became part of the1st Maryland Regiment of theContinental Army, and went north to fight in the war. They fought in the Battles ofBrooklyn (where Captain Stone was especially distinguished) andWhite Plains. Then, in late 1776, when Smallwood was promoted to Brigadier General, Stone became the Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment.
When the Continental Line was re-organized early in 1777, General Smallwood had earned additional responsibility as a brigade commander. Stone was made Colonel and commander of the 1st Maryland. He led the regiment in the Battles ofPrinceton,Brandywine, andGermantown. He was wounded at Germantown and as a result was lame for the rest of his life.
Colonel Stone was back in active command by theBattle of Monmouth. His unit was active in the continuing defense ofNew Jersey. His career ended when he was wounded again in theBattle of Stony Point on July 14, 1779. This time his wounds were more serious and he resigned his commission on August 1.
Stone returned home to Maryland and was made a member of the state's Executive Council where he served from 1779 until 1785. He was admitted as an original member of TheSociety of the Cincinnati of Maryland when it was established in 1783,[5] later serving as the vice president (1792-1795) and president (1795-1804) of the Maryland Society.[6] Charles County elected him to theMaryland House of Delegates in 1785, returning annually until 1787, and again in 1790. Stone then returned to the State Council in 1791 and 1792.
Stone was elected to a single three-year term as Governor of Maryland from 1794 to 1797, before returning to private life. He died in 1804 inAnnapolis, Maryland, at the age of 55, and was buried there.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Governor of Maryland 1794–1797 | Succeeded by |
