Stevenson Archer (February 28, 1827 – August 2, 1898) was an American politician. An U.S. Congressman from

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

, he served in the second district for four terms from 1867 to 1875. He served in the

Maryland House of Delegates The Maryland House of Delegates is the lower house of the Maryland General Assembly, legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland. It consists of 141 delegates elected from 47 districts. The House of Delegates Chamber is in the Maryland State House ...

and as

Treasurer of Maryland The Treasurer of Maryland is responsible for the management and investment of the cash deposits, bond sale revenue, and all other securities and collateral of the state of Maryland in the United States. In addition, the Treasurer conducts regular ...

. He was a slave owner.

Early life

Stevenson Archer was born at Medical Hall,

Harford County, Maryland Harford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 260,924. Its county seat is Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland, Bel Air. Harford County is included in the Wa ...

, near Churchville, on February 28, 1827, to Pamelia B. (née Hays) and Stevenson Archer. Archer's father and grandfather, John Archer, were both Congressmen from Maryland. His sister, Pamelia H. Archer, was the mother of George Earle Chamberlain, the 11th Governor of Oregon and a two term

United States Senator The United States Senate consists of 100 members, two from each of the 50 U.S. state, states. This list includes all senators serving in the 119th United States Congress. Party affiliation Independent Senators Angus King of Maine and Berni ...

.''Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley, Oregon: Containing Original Sketches of Many Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present.'' In two parts. Chicago, IL: Chapman Publishing Co., 1903; part 1, p. 37. Archer attended Bel Air Academy, later graduating from Princeton College in 1848. He studied law at the office of Otho Scott in Bel Air, and was admitted to the bar in 1850, commencing practice the same year.

Career

In 1851, Archer formed a partnership with Edwin Hanson Webster. In 1853, he was elected as a Whig to the

. In 1866, he was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the Fortieth and to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1867, until March 3, 1875. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1874. In 1867, Archer was appointed as judge for a term on the

Cecil County Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland at the northeastern corner of the state, bordering both Pennsylvania and Delaware. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 103,725. The county seat is Elkton. The ...

court. Archer succeeded John Sterett Gittings as

in 1886. In 1890, he was accused of embezzling $132,000 in state funds. The investigation found he had kept railroad bonds for personal use. He pleaded guilty to malfeasance and was sentenced to five years in the Maryland Penitentiary. In May 1894, Governor Frank Brown pardoned him. Archer continued the practice of law in Bel Air until his death.

Personal life

Archer married Blanche Franklin of

Sumner County, Tennessee Sumner County is a county located on the central northern border of Tennessee in the United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 196,281. Its county seat is Gallatin, and its most populous city is Hendersonville. T ...

in 1855. She was also known as Jane Cage Franklin. Together, they had five children. Archer's family lived at ''Hazell Dell'' near Bel Air.

Later life and death

Archer suffered from kidney ailments since 1893. After leaving prison in May 1894, he was hospitalized. Archer died from

Bright's disease Bright's disease is a historical classification of kidney diseases that are described in modern medicine as acute or chronic nephritis. It was characterized by swelling and the presence of albumin in the urine. It was frequently accompanied ...

on August 2, 1898, at the City Hospital in

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

. He is interred in the Churchville Presbyterian Church cemetery.

Footnotes

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External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Archer, Stevenson 1827 births 1898 deaths American politicians convicted of corruption American prisoners and detainees People from Churchville, Maryland Politicians from Harford County, Maryland Princeton University alumni Maryland politicians convicted of crimes Members of the Maryland House of Delegates State treasurers of Maryland Maryland Whigs Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maryland Members of the United States House of Representatives who owned slaves Prisoners and detainees of Maryland Archer family (Maryland) 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives 19th-century members of the Maryland General Assembly Recipients of gubernatorial pardons in Maryland