Elijah Stansbury Jr. (May 1791 – December 19, 1883) was an American politician and soldier. He served in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It ...

. He served in the

Maryland House of Delegates The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the legislature of the State of Maryland. It consists of 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. The House of Delegates Chamber is in the Maryland State House on State Circle in Annapolis ...

from 1843 to 1845 and as

Mayor of Baltimore The mayor of Baltimore is the head of the executive branch of the government of the City of Baltimore, Maryland. The Mayor has the duty to enforce city laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills, ordinances, or resolutions passed by the ...

from 1848 to 1850.

Early life

Elijah Stansbury Jr. was born in May 1791, in the manor of "McGaw's Mills",

Baltimore County, Maryland Baltimore County ( , locally: or ) is the third-most populous county in the U.S. state of Maryland and is part of the Baltimore metropolitan area. Baltimore County (which partially surrounds, though does not include, the independent City of ...

to Elijah Stansbury Sr. He learned the trade of bricklayer. At the age of fifteen, Stansbury organized a company of forty-seven boys. He was elected as captain and

Edward Rutledge Edward Rutledge (November 23, 1749 – January 23, 1800) was an American Founding Father and politician who signed the Continental Association and was the youngest signatory of the Declaration of Independence. He later served as the 39th gove ...

was first lieutenant.

Career

Stansbury was considered not fit for military service, but volunteered in 1812. He enlisted as a private in the Baltimore Union Artillery under Captain John Montgomery. He took part in the

Battle of North Point The Battle of North Point was fought on September 12, 1814, between General John Stricker's Maryland Militia and a British force led by Major General Robert Ross. Although the Americans retreated, they were able to do so in good order having inf ...

in September 1814. He was commissioned

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...

and steadily rose to command a regiment. After the war Stansbury continued the bricklayer business. Shortly after 1817, Stansbury entered the building supply business. He joined with G. Myers and Dr. Thomson to form a firm to sell

botanical medicine Herbal medicine (also herbalism) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedies ...

called ''Thomsonian Medicine''. He continued this business until 1862. Stansbury was a Democrat. On October 24, 1824, Stansbury was elected to the First Branch of the

Baltimore City Council The Baltimore City Council is the legislative branch that governs the City of Baltimore and its more than 600,000 citizens. It has 14 members elected by district and a president elected at-large; all serve four-year terms. The Council holds regu ...

, representing the Fourth Ward, and served multiple terms from 1825 to 1832. He was elected to the

on October 4, 1843; serving from 1843 to 1845. Stansbury served as

from 1848 to 1850.

Personal life

Stansbury married Eliza Eckel, daughter of Philip P. Eckel, of Baltimore in 1817. Stansbury died on December 19, 1883. He was buried at

Baltimore National Cemetery Baltimore National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located along Maryland Route 144 on both sides of the boundary between the neighborhoods of Beechfield in Baltimore City and Catonsville in Baltimore County. It encompasses . , th ...

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stansbury, Elijah Jr. 1791 births 1883 deaths Politicians from Baltimore County, Maryland People from Maryland in the War of 1812 Democratic Party members of the Maryland House of Delegates Mayors of Baltimore 19th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly