Governor Thomas Ward Veazey

THOMAS W. VEAZEY was born at “Cherry Grove” in Cecil County, Maryland on January 31, 1774. His education was attained at Washington College, where he graduated in 1795. During the War of 1812, he served as lieutenant colonel of the 49 th Regiment in the Maryland Militia. Veazey entered politics in 1808, serving as a presidential elector, a position he held again in 1812. He also was a member of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1811 to 1812, and served as a member of the Governor’s Executive Council from 1833 to 1835. Veazey was elected governor of Maryland on January 4, 1836, and was sworn into office on January 14. He was reelected to a second term in 1837, and to a third term in 1838. During his tenure, key constitutional amendments were lobbied for, which were ratified in 1837. One of the constitutional changes was the governor’s term, which became a three-year term, and the governor was now to be elected by a popular vote instead of by the legislature. After completing his term, Veazey left office on January 7, 1839 and retired from public service. Governor Thomas W. Veazey passed away on July 1, 1842, and was buried in the family cemetery at “Cherry Grove” in Cecil County, Maryland.