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 The Court of Appeals of Maryland.

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County, and a sister of James Thomas, cratic as well as a Republican endorsement who was Governor of the State. Judge of his ability and integrity. He was mar Brent graduated at Georgetown College in ried in 1849, to Catherine, the eldest the District of Columbia. He studied law daughter of the Hon. William M. Mer in Washington City with his uncle, William rick, who died in August, 1877, leaving him L. Brent, and completed his legal education with a large family of children. The Judge died at the age of sixty odd, at the Law School of Harvard University. He then commenced the practice of law in while occupying his seat on the Bench of his native county, having settled at Port the Court of Appeals. Tobacco, the county

i Hon. John Ritchie seat, and was soon was for a number successful in obtain of years one of the ing a large and lucra leading lawyers of tive practice in the Western Maryland. three counties, com He was born in Fredprising the First Ju erick, Maryland, in dicial Circuit of the the year 1832. His State. In 1841, he great-grandfather was became State's attor a Scotch immigrant ney, and continued in into Maryland, prob the office until 1850. ably coming from the He was a member of Cumberland Valley, the Whig party until in Pennsylvania, and it disbanded, when he settled in Frederickunited with the Dem County at an early ocrats. He several period. His father times represented his was Dr. John S. Ritch county in the Legis ie, a well-known and lature, but always talented physician of manifested a prefer Frederick County. ence for professional John Ritchie, after re rather than political JAMF.S MC SHERRY. ceiving an academic life. He was a mem education, completed ber of the State Con stitutional Convention in 1850, serving as a his preparation for the practice of the law at Harvard University. He then returned to colleague of the Hon. William M. Mer rick, Hon. Daniel Jenifer, and General John Frederick County, and entered on the G. Chapman. In 1861, he was elected practice of his profession in partnership with judge of the First Judicial Circuit. When the Hon. William P. Maulsby, who was the judicial system of the State was changed afterwards a Judge of the Court of Appeals. by the Constitution of 1864, he was one of He soon acquired a lucrative practice, and the judges retained under its provisions. was recognized as one of the best speakers The judicial system was again changed by in the State, in the forum of justice as well the Constitution of 1867, but Judge Brent as on the hustings. His first appearance was elected without opposition Chief Judge in the field of public activity, was as captain of the circuit in which he resided, thus of a militia company in Frederick County, receiving the high compliment of a Demo- which was the first militia organization to