John Francis Mercer

John Francis Mercer
Portrait by Robert Field, 1803
10th Governor of Maryland
In office November 10, 1801 – November 13, 1803
Preceded by	Benjamin Ogle
Succeeded by	Robert Bowie
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1793 – April 13, 1794
Preceded by	William Hindman
Succeeded by	Gabriel Duvall
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 3rd district
In office February 5, 1792 – March 3, 1793
Preceded by	William Pinkney
Succeeded by	Uriah Forrest
Member of the Lower House of the Maryland General Assembly for Anne Arundel County
In office 1800-1801, 1803-1805
In office 1788-1792
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Stafford County
In office October 1785 – January, 1786 Serving with William Garrard
Preceded by	William Brent
Succeeded by	Andrew Buchannan
Member of the Continental Congress for Virginia
In office 1782–1785
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Stafford County
In office May 1782 – December 1782 Serving with Charles Carter
Preceded by	Thomas Mountjoy
Succeeded by	Thomson Mason
Personal details
Born	(1759-05-17)May 17, 1759 Stafford County, Colony of Virginia, British America
Died	August 30, 1821(1821-08-30) (aged 62) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Resting place	Cedar Park Estate, Galesville, Maryland
Nationality	American
Political party	Anti-Federalist (1782), Federalist (1801)
Spouse	Sophia Sprigg
Relations	John Mercer, James Mercer, George Mercer
Children	4, including Margaret Mercer, John Mercer Jr.
Residence	Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Alma mater	College of William and Mary
Occupation	Lawyer, politician
Military service
Allegiance	Continental Army  United States Army
Rank	Lieutenant colonel
Unit	3rd Virginia Regiment Virginia militia
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War Battle of Brandywine  (WIA) Battle of Guilford

John Francis Mercer (May 17, 1759 – August 30, 1821) was a Founding Father of the United States, politician, lawyer, planter, and slave owner from Virginia and Maryland. An officer during the Revolutionary War, Mercer initially served in the Virginia House of Delegates and then the Maryland State Assembly. As a member of the assembly, he was appointed a delegate from Maryland to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, where he was a framer of the U.S. Constitution though he left the convention before signing. Mercer was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from two different districts in Maryland. In 1801—1803, he served as Maryland's 10th governor.^[1][2]