Biographical Sketches of Distinguished Marylanders (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1877 Excerpt: ...to his fellow-man. He was truly great. He lived at a time when greatness meant more than a mere name or title, and yet not to be bought as a bauble. His greatness was striven for with the energy of life, and clasped as a prize by its possessor. His greatness was unbestowed of man, nor won by pandering to the popular tastes and creeds of the day. Bather did he seek to uproot such systems as he deemed pernicious to the life and liberty of his beloved land. In 1805 he was appointed Attorney-General of the State of Maryland. In 1806 he was sent as Envoy Extraordinary to Great Britain, from whence he returned in 1811. On his return he was immediately elected a member of the State Senate, and at the end of the same year was appointed Attorney-General of the United States by President Madison. Not long after his appointment to the Attorney-Generalship an important case came up for decision in the Supreme Court. It related to International Law and the special claims of private citizens of the United States against the sovereign rights of foreign nations. In referring to the argument made by Mr. Pinkney on this occasion, Sparks says: "It was maintained by Mr. Pinkney, as Attorney-General, with an extent of learning, and a force of argument and eloquence, which raised him at once in the public estimation to the head of the American Bar" Not satisfied with the might of the pen alone, his sword was drawn in defence of his country against the British invaders. In command of a company of riflen: en, attached to the third brigade of Maryland militia, he fought and was wounded at the Battle of Bladensburg. lie w;is sent from Baltimore to the National Congress. He resigned his seat before the expiration of his term, and accepted the appointment of Minister to Russi...