Thomas Tench ( – 1708) was the 9th Royal Governor of

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 ...

, from 1702 to 1704. He was appointed by his predecessor,

Nathaniel Blakiston Colonel Nathaniel Blakiston was the 8th Royal Governor of Maryland from 1698 to 1702. He succeeded Francis Nicholson and was succeeded by Thomas Tench. He was related to Nehemiah Blakiston. Military career Nathaniel Blakiston was grandson of ...

, and was succeeded by Colonel John Seymour.

Early life

Thomas Tench was probably born in the 1650s in

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

. He immigrated to the

Anne Arundel County, Maryland Anne Arundel County (; ), also notated as AA or A.A. County, is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 588,261, an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis, Mar ...

in 1684.

Personal life

Tench married Margaret Burrage in 1684 or 1685. She had been previously married to Nathan Smith (d. 1684). She had three children from her previous marriage. She died in 1694. Tench married Margaret by 1704.

Career

Tench was a merchant and transported servants from

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

between 1675 and 1684. In 1694, his ship was seized for violating the

Navigation Acts The Navigation Acts, or more broadly the Acts of Trade and Navigation, were a series of English laws that developed, promoted, and regulated English ships, shipping, trade, and commerce with other countries and with its own colonies. The laws al ...

. Tench served as justice in Anne Arundel County from 1685 to 1692. He also served as coroner of Anne Arundel County from 1689 to 1692. Tench served in the

upper house An upper house is one of two Legislative chamber, chambers of a bicameralism, bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house. The house formally designated as the upper house is usually smaller and often has more restricted p ...

in Maryland from 1692–1693, 1694–1697, 1697/1698–1700, 1701–1704 and 1704–1707. In 1702, He served as the 9th Royal Governor of Maryland. Tench served as a vestryman at Christ Church in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Death

Tench died in 1708. He was buried at St. James' Parish in Anne Arundel County.

References

Year of birth missing 1708 deaths Colonial governors of Maryland Merchants from colonial Maryland 18th-century American merchants {{Maryland-politician-stub