Benjamin Chew Howard manuscript collection

Benjamin Chew Howard, 1791-1872, was a lawyer and statesman from Baltimore County, Maryland. He was born at his family’s home, Belvedere, to John Eager Howard and Peggy Oswald Chew. His father fought in the Revolutionary War and served Maryland as governor and senator. Howard attended primary school in Baltimore before pursuing studies at Princeton University, which was then called the College of New Jersey. He returned to Baltimore to study the law, but his work was interrupted by the War of 1812. Howard became deeply involved in the war effort. He helped organize troops for the defense of Baltimore and commanded the First Mechanical Volunteers at the Battle of North Point. After the war, he returned to his legal studies, gained admittance to the bar in 1816, and set up a prosperous legal practice. He married Jane Gilmor, 1801-1890, in 1818.

He launched a successful political career soon thereafter. He served in Baltimore city government and won four terms in Congress for the state of Maryland. He acted as a representative for peace on two occasions at the direction of the president. Under President Andrew Jackson, he worked to prevent conflict between Ohio and Michigan over disputed border territory. He also attended the Peace Conference of 1861, which attempted to stop the Southern states from ceding the Union. That year, Howard also ran for Governor of Maryland, but lost to Augustus W. Bradford. He died in Baltimore in 1872 after a long illness.