Mercer, John Francis, 1759-1821

John Francis Mercer (May 17, 1759 – August 30, 1821) was an American lawyer, planter, and politician from Virginia and Maryland, who served as Maryland's 10th governor, as well as a member in the Continental Congress, the Virginia House of Delegates, the U.S. House of Representatives, and Maryland State Assembly.

Born at Marlborough plantation in Stafford County in the Colony of Virginia, Mercer received his education at home from private teachers before attending the College of William and Mary, and graduated in 1775. During the American Revolutionary War, Mercer accepted a commission as lieutenant in the 3rd Virginia Regiment in the Continental Army, rising to captain before serving as an aide-de-camp with the rank of major to General Charles Lee. He resigned from the army when Lee did in October 1779, but recruited a cavalry company for the Virginia militia as the British navy discharged Tarleton's Raiders and others to raid plantations in Chesapeake Bay. Thus he held the rank of lieutenant colonel and served briefly under Lafayette as he led troops at the Battle of Guildford, Battle of Green Spring, siege of Yorktown and other locations.

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