William Duhurst MERRICK, Congress, MD (1793-1857)

MERRICK, William Duhurst, (father of William Matthew Merrick), a Senator from Maryland; born in Annapolis, Md., October 25, 1793; completed preparatory studies and graduated from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.; held several local offices; served in the War of 1812; register of wills of Charles County, Md., 1825-1832; studied law; admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Port Tobacco, Md.; member, State house of delegates 1832-1838; elected as a Whig to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Joseph Kent; reelected in 1839 and served from January 4, 1838, to March 3, 1845; chairman, Committee on the District of Columbia (Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses), Committee on Post Office and Post Roads (Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Congresses); member of the State constitutional convention in 1850; member, State house of delegates from January 1856, until his death in Washington, D.C., February 5, 1857; interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

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