Thomas Bladen | |
|---|---|
| 8thGovernor of Restored Proprietary Government | |
| In office 1742–1746/47 | |
| Preceded by | Samuel Ogle |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Ogle |
| Member of Parliament forAshburton | |
| In office 1735–1741 Serving with Roger Tuckfield,Joseph Taylor | |
| Preceded by | Sir William Yonge Roger Tuckfield |
| Succeeded by | John Harris John Arscott |
| Member of Parliament forSteyning | |
| In office 1727–1734 Serving with The Viscount Vane | |
| Preceded by | John Gumley William Stanhope |
| Succeeded by | Marquess of Carnarvon Sir Robert Fagg, Bt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1698-02-23)23 February 1698 |
| Died | 2 February 1780(1780-02-02) (aged 81) |
| Spouse | |
| Relations | Martin Bladen (uncle) Nathaniel Bladen (grandfather) William Capell (grandson) Thomas Bladen Capel (grandson) |
| Children | Barbara St John Harriet, Countess of Essex |
| Parent(s) | William Bladen Anne Van Swearingen |
| Education | Westminster School |
Thomas Bladen (23 February 1698 – 2 February 1780) was a colonial governor in North America and politician who sat in theBritish House of Commons between 1727 and 1741. He served as the 19thProprietary Governor ofMaryland from 1742 to 1747.
Bladen was born in Maryland in 1698, the eldest son ofWilliam Bladen (1672–1718) of Annapolis,[1] who came to Maryland in 1690, and his wife Anne Van Swearingen.[2][3] Among his siblings was Anne Bladen (wife ofBenjamin Tasker Sr., also a Governor of Maryland).
Thomas was the grandson ofNathaniel Bladen (an attorney who wassteward toThomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds)[4] and Isabella Fairfax (daughter ofSir William Fairfax of Steeton). He was the nephew of ColonelMartin Bladen, Commissioner of the Board of Trade and Plantations.[5]
Bladen travelled early to England in 1712, where he was educated atWestminster School. He disposed of his Maryland property on his father's death in 1718.
Bladen was returned asMember of Parliament (MP) forSteyning at the1727 British general election by the Duke of Chandos at the request of his uncle Martin Bladen. He voted with the Government. At the1734 British general election he stood for parliament at Amersham, where he was defeated then and at a by-election in February 1735. He was returned as MP forAshburton at another by-election on 20 February 1735. He was defeated at the1741 British general election.[6] He also saw military service as a colonel.
In 1742, Bladen returned to Maryland as provincial Governor, on the recommendation of his brother-in-law, Lord Baltimore. He was the first governor to be born in the Province.[2] He also served as surveyor general, Western Shore, 1742–1746, and chancellor, 1742–1746/47. While governor, he concluded a peace with theSix Nations.[7] He negotiated withPennsylvania authorities for the settlement of the Maryland–Pennsylvania boundary.
Upon his arrival in Maryland, the Legislature awarded him £4,000 to build himself a residence, which was £1,000 more than his predecessor.[2] In 1744, he bought 4 acres (16,000 m2) of land in Annapolis from Stephen Bordley and commenced construction of a building,[8] now McDowell Hall, St. John's College, as a governor's residence.[7] He quickly disagreed with the Legislature about its architecture[8] and became involved in a lawsuit with Bordley, the previous owner, and construction halted.[8]
While as governor in Maryland in 1744, Bladen organized the firstice cream social in the United States. The social was organized while at a dinner party.[9]
Bladen quickly became an unpopular governor,[8] and was dismissed from office by October 1746 because he was "tactless and quarrelsome". He returned to England in 1746, when he was succeeded bySamuel Ogle, husband of his niece Anne Tasker. Ogle had been governor prior to Bladen's arrival in Maryland.
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In 1731, he married Barbara Janssen in England. She was a daughter ofSir Theodore Janssen, 1st Baronet and the former Williamza Henley. Through her sister Mary Janssen, she was a sister-in-law ofCharles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore and Proprietor of the Province,[8] and aunt toCaroline Calvert Eden (wife of GovernorSir Robert Eden, 1st Baronet, of Maryland). Soon after his marriage he acquired theGlastonbury Abbey estate from the Duke of Devonshire for £12,700, reportedly after beating him at dice.[10] Together, they were the parents of two daughters:
Bladen lived atLeyton Grange in England where he died in 1780 and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Leyton.[7] Bladen's wife Barbara, who had a life interest in Glastonbury, died in 1783 and their heirs were their daughters Barbara and Harriet who sold the whole estate in 1799.[10]
The Governor's residence sat uncompleted until 1766 when the roof collapsed. The building now serves as the central hall ofSt. John's College and is namedMcDowell Hall. The nickname for McDowell Hall is "Bladen's Folly".[8]
The town ofBladensburg, Maryland, which was incorporated in the first year of his governorship as Garrison's Landing, was renamed after him.[13]
Samuel Ogle.
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| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forSteyning 1727–1734 With:The Viscount Vane | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forAshburton 1735–1741 With:Roger Tuckfield to 1739 Joseph Taylor 1739–1741 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Maryland 1742–1746/47 | Succeeded by |
