John Selby SPENCE, Congress, MD (1788-1840)

SPENCE, John Selby, (uncle of Thomas Ara Spence), a Representative and a Senator from Maryland; born near Snow Hill, Worcester County, Md., February 29, 1788; attended the common schools; graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1809 and practiced in Worcester County, Md.; member, State house of delegates; member, State senate; elected to the Eighteenth Congress (March 4, 1823-March 3, 1825); elected as an Anti-Jacksonian in 1836 to the Twenty-second Congress (March 4, 1831-March 3, 1833); elected as an Anti-Jacksonian (later Whig) to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Robert H. Goldsborough; reelected in 1837 and served from December 31, 1836, until his death near Berlin, Worcester County, Md., October 24, 1840; interment in the Episcopal Churchyard.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present