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George Plater III | |
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| 6th Governor of Maryland | |
| In office November 14, 1791 – February 10, 1792 | |
| Preceded by | John E. Howard |
| Succeeded by | James Brice |
| Member of theMaryland State Senate | |
| In office 1777–1790 | |
| Delegate to theContinental Congress from Maryland | |
| In office 1778–1780 | |
| Member of theMaryland House of Delegates | |
| In office 1757–1766 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1735-11-08)November 8, 1735 |
| Died | February 10, 1792(1792-02-10) (aged 56) Annapolis, Maryland, U.S. |
| Resting place | Sotterley Plantation |
| Spouse(s) | Hannah Lee; Elizabeth Ann Rousby |
| Education | College of William & Mary |
George Plater III (November 8, 1735 – February 10, 1792) was anAmerican planter, lawyer, and statesman fromSaint Mary's County, Maryland. He representedMaryland in theContinental Congress from 1778 to 1780, and briefly served as thesixth Governor of Maryland in 1791 and 1792.
George Plater III was born at Sotterley, the family plantation nearLeonards Town in theProvince of Maryland.[1]
His father, George II, had married Rebecca Addison Bowles, the widow of the plantation's founder, in 1729. His grandfather, George Plater I, was the acting Attorney General, 1691–1692; Receiver for Patuxent 1691-1707; Collector of Patuxent, 1691–1696; Receiver for Pocomoke, 1696–1697; Receiver General for Maryland, 1693–1696; and naval officer at Patuxent, 1693–1707.[2][3][4]
His siblings included Rebecca Plater Tayloe, wife ofJohn Tayloe II; Anne; Thomas Addison (died in infancy); and Elizabeth Norton.[5]
After receiving his early schooling at home, he attended theCollege of William and Mary inWilliamsburg, Virginia, graduating in 1752. In 1753, he studied law in England and was admitted to the bar in Maryland. During 1757-1759, he was a delegate in the Maryland Lower House of Assembly. In 1767-77, he was a naval officer of the Patuxent District, and in 1771-74, he was a member of the Governor's Council. As therevolution neared, he represented St. Mary's County in theAnnapolis Convention, which became a revolutionary government. He was appointed by the Maryland Council of Safety to collect funds for the attack on Quebec. On August 14, 1776, he was appointed to the ninth convention to draft Maryland's first constitution.
Maryland sent him as a delegate to theContinental Congress in 1778, and he represented his state until 1781. Under the new constitution, Plater served as president of the Maryland State Senate from 1781 until 1790.[6]
When Maryland held a convention to consider theUnited States Constitution, Plater attended and was the president of the convention when they voted for ratification on April 28, 1788. The following year, he was chosen as apresidential elector. However, he did not vote.[7]
In late 1791, Plater was elected governor, and took office in December. However, his term was short; he died after less than three months in office. He was buried in Sotterley, Maryland, but the site of his grave is unknown.
Plater was an active Protestant who served twenty-eight years as a vestryman ofSt. Andrew's Episcopal Church (which he helped to found and build).
He was first married to Hannah Lee and their only child was Charlotte (born circa 9/1763; died young). He later married Elizabeth Ann Rousby, and they had six children: Rebecca, George, John, Thomas, Edward, and Ann. Rebecca Plater (born 3/8/1765) married GeneralUriah Forrest, a statesman and military leader. She was the grandmother of Alice Green, wife of Prince DonÁngel de Iturbide y Huarte of theImperial House of Mexico, who were in turn the parents of Prince DonAgustín de Iturbide y Green, who was adopted by Mexico’sHabsburg EmperorMaximilian I of Mexico and his consortCarlota of Mexico. George Plater IV (born 9/21/1766 in St. Mary's Co, Maryland, died 4/10/1802 at Sotterley) married Cecelia Brown Bond (on 3/22/1798), and later married Elizabeth Somerville. John Rousby Plater (born 10/15/1767 at Annapolis, Anne Arundel, Maryland) married Elizabeth Tuttle and was a lawyer and judge. Thomas Plater (born 5/5/1769 at Annapolis, Anne Arundel, Maryland) married Ann Lingan and later married Evelina Hite Buchanan. He was a lawyer and would go on to represent Maryland in theUnited States House of Representatives. Ann Plater (born 9/23/1770 at Sotterley, St. Marys Co, Maryland) marriedPhilip Barton Key. Their daughter Elizabeth Rousby Key was the wife of Louisiana's fifth governor,Henry Johnson and a first cousin toFrancis Scott Key. Their son,Philip Barton Key, Jr., served prior to theAmerican Civil War as a member of theLouisiana House of Representatives forLafourche Parish,Louisiana. He was educated in the law by his cousin Francis Scott Key.
When Plater died on February 10, 1792, in the capital city ofAnnapolis, Maryland, his body was returned home and buried atSotterley, on the banks of thePatuxent River in St. Mary's County. At least 93 slaves lived on the plantation at the time of the subject's death.[8] The house is maintained and operated as a museum by a foundation created for that purpose. The property is onRoute 245, just outsideHollywood, Maryland, and is open to visitors during the summer.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | President of the Maryland State Senate 1780–1782 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Maryland State Senate 1784 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Maryland State Senate 1785 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Maryland State Senate 1786 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Maryland State Senate 1787–1788 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President of the Maryland State Senate 1790 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Maryland 1791–1792 | Succeeded by James Brice Acting Governor |
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