William Grason

William Grason ( born March 11, 1788 in Queen Anne's County, Maryland, † July 2, 1868 ) was an American politician (Democratic Party) and 1839-1842 Governor of Maryland.

Early years and political rise

William Grason attended St. John's College, the school but dropped out to join the U.S. Navy. There he served for a short time as a sergeant. Since 1828 Grason was politically active. Between 1828 and 1829, and in 1837 he was a member of the House of Representatives from Maryland. In the years 1833 and 1835, he competed unsuccessfully for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Governor of Maryland

On 3 October 1838 he was selected according to the new constitution in general elections to the new governor of his state in a three -year term. Until then, the governors were elected for one year by the Legislature. William Grason took up his new post on January 7, 1839. During his tenure, more roads in Maryland have been completed. In a shipyard in Baltimore the first ship in the modern iron construction was built. The governor worked on the reduction of public debt and sat down for a shift in the balance of political power in Maryland to the detriment of a legislature.

Further CV

In 1850, Grason was a member of a commission to revise the Constitution of Maryland. Between 1852 and 1853 he was a member of the Senate of Maryland. In 1860 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. William Grason died in July 1868. He was married to Susan Orrick Sulivane, with whom he had twelve children.