| Visit of President Monroe to Annapolis, May 30 and 31, 1818
Notes from Maryland Gazette and Political Intelligencer, June 4, 1818
MSA only has two local newspapers which cover those dates, and the articles featuring news of Monroe's visit do not mention the Governor or Government House at all. Charles Ridgely
of Hampton was Governor at this time, but he is not mentioned in conjunction with Monroe.
The following were members of Monroe's traveling party: Sec. of War, Sec. of Navy, Col. McRea of the engineering corps, two private gentleman.
A welcome address was given by the Mayor of Annapolis on behalf of "the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City". Likewise, Monroe's speech was addressed
"to the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council."
Following the speeches, a public dinner was given by the citizens of Annapolis at Mr. William Brewer's hotel. Guests included: Monroe and his party, William Kilty, Esq., Col.
Maynadier, J. Hughes, James Boyle, Dr. Claude, Gen. Gassaway, Thomas Bowie II, John Brewer, James Shaw, William Warfield, and William Pickney (who is the maternal grandfather of
Gov. William Pickney Wyte, former Att. General, former U.S. Representative and Senator, and minister to Russia).
One of the accounts does say that Monroe is embarking on an "excursion down the Chesapeake, as far as Hampton and Norfolk." Maybe this indicates a visit to Governor Ridgely at
Hampton? One newspaper confirms that Monroe visited with the Mercers at Cedar Park and stayed for 3 days.
Kelly, J. Reaney. Quakers in the Founding of Anne Arundel County, Maryland. (Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 1963), 93-4
"President James Monroe visited his friend, Governor Mercer, at 'Cedar Park' on May 30 and 31, 1818, accompanied by John C. Calhoun, Secretary of War , and Benjamin W.
Crowninshield, Secretary of the Navy. Young Margaret Mercer acted as hostess for her father." |
