The Adjutant General of Maryland is the head military official of the Maryland National Guard, the Maryland Defense Force, and any other military or paramilitary units that may be maintained by the State of Maryland. The adjutant general is responsible for the military department's budget and maintains all State-owned armories in Maryland.
History Maryland Governor Thomas Sim Lee provided for the office of an adjutant general of the State Militia in "an Act to regulate and discipline the militia of this State," in compliance with the Act of Congress of 1792, entitled, "An Act more effectually to provide for the national defence, by establishing a uniform militia throughout the United States."
In October 1794, an adjutant general of Maryland was appointed for the first time and a resolution was passed at the November session of the Maryland General Assembly, as follows: "Resolved, That the treasurer of the Western Shore / be and he is hereby authorized and required to pay to The Adjutant-General of this State for the time being, the sum of two hundred pounds current money, in quarterly payments, provided the said Adjutant-General reside or keep an office at the seat of government."
In 1797, the annual salary of the office was "five hundred and thirty-three dollars and one-third of a dollar," six hundred dollars in 1799, and was later "fixed and established" by law, (chapter 168, Laws of Maryland. 1S07), at five hundred dollars annually, to be paid in quarter yearly payments. By subsequent enactments, the amount was increased at various times until the present salary was attained and established.
The Adjutant General of Maryland was given the relative military rank of "Colonel of Artillery in the line" by Chapter 251, Laws of Maryland, 1834; the relative rank of "Brigadier-General" by Chapter 284, Laws of Maryland, 1864; and finally, the present rank of "Major-General" by Chapter 337, Laws of Maryland, 1867.
List of Maryland Adjutant Generals The following sketches have been adapted and borrowed from a variety of sources, including the Maryland State Archives and the Report of the Adjutant General of Maryland 1906–1907.
Henry Carbery (1794–1807) Henry Carbery, first adjutant general of Maryland, was born at St. Clement's Bay, St. Mary's County, Maryland, in 1757. At the commencement of the Revolutionary War in 1776, he was a "gentleman cadet" in Captain John Allen Thomas' "Independent" Company, of St. Mary's county and is mentioned in a letter from Captain Thomas to the Council of Safety, dated 8 March 1776, as "deserving notice." Carbery was appointed second lieutenant in Colonel Hartley's regiment of Continental Troops, 24 January 1777. He was promoted to first lieutenant on or about 19 September 1777, and captain on 30 November 1778. (The regiment was designated as the 11th Pennsylvania on 13 January 1779). He was wounded on 13 August 1779, and retired 17 January 1781. He was a captain in Major Henry Gaither's battalion of the "Levies of 1791," and he served under General St. Clair against the Miami Indians in November 1791. Carbery became captain of infantry, U.S. Army, on 16 March 1792, and was assigned to the 4th sub-legion 4 September 1792. He resigned 10 February 1794.
Henry Carbery was appointed adjutant general of the Maryland State Militia 6 October 1794, and served under Governors Stone, Henry, Ogle, Mercer, Robert Bowie (1803) and Wright. He was made colonel of the 36th U.S. Infantry, 22 March 1813, and resigned 4 March 1815. He died at his residence, near Georgetown, D.C. on 26 May 1822, at 66 years old.
The following tribute to Maryland's first adjutant general, both as a soldier and as a man, was written by Hon. James Brice, of Annapolis, (president of the Governor's Council and acting governor upon the death of Governor Plater in 1792), in a communication to His Excellency, George Washington and is a copy of the original document:
Maryland Annapolis February 18th, 1792. In Council. Sir: Presuming that the defence of the frontiers will require an augmented force, and that Military promotions will of course take place, we beg leave to address you in favor of Mr. Henry Carbery, who served in the late expedition against the Indians as Senior Captain in the Battalion of levies from this State, and has returned with the reputation of having exhibited an exemplary conduct as well in the unfortunate action as during the Campaign in general. These testimonies joined to the knowledge we have of his respectable deportment in private life, have impressed us with the desire of procuring him the further notice of your Excellency. We believe him to be among those men who by a prediction for the Military life are led to a closer study of the duties of that profession than officers of his rank in general impose on themselves. We beg leave Sir, to add, that during the former war he occasionally commanded a party of Cavalry against the Indians, and seems confident of acquitting himself well if he should be honored with a Command of that kind in the proposed arrangements. With the highest respect we have the honor to be your excellency's Most Obedt. Hble. Servt. (Signed) James Brice His Excellency, the President of the United States.
Samuel Turbutt Wright (1807–1810) Samuel T. Wright, second adjutant general of Maryland, was born in Queen Anne's county, Maryland, in the year 1749. He was chosen by the Convention of Maryland, 2 January 1776, second lieutenant of Captain Edward Veazey's Seventh "Independent" Company of Maryland Militia, enrolled from Queen Anne and Kent counties; taken prisoner at the battle of Long Island, 27 August 1776; later exchanged; commissioned captain, Second Maryland Regiment, 1 January 1777, (commanding Eighth Company of the Second Battalion); resigned 1 July 1779. Was appointed lieutenant-colonel, commandant, of the Thirty-eighth Regiment, (Queen Anne's county), Maryland Militia, 18 June 1794.
At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, Wright was admitted as an original member of The Society of the Cincinnati of Maryland when it was established in 1783.Thomas, William Sturgis, Members of the Society of the Cincinnati, Original, Hereditary and Honorary; With a Brief Account of the Society's History and Aims (New York: T.A. Wright, 1929), p. 165.
Samuel T. Wright was appointed adjutant general of the Maryland State Militia 18 July 1807, and was authorized by Governor Robert Wright, in July 1807, to detach 5,863 men from the militia, as Maryland's quota of 100,000 men ordered by the president to be ready to take the field at a moment's notice, on account of the critical status of foreign relations at that time. He served under Governors Wright and Edward Lloyd. He was a member of the Governor's Council during the years 1781, 1782, 1785 and 1786; also, for some time held the office of Clerk of Queen Anne's county, Maryland. He died near Centreville, Maryland, 30 June 1810.
John Kilty (1810–1811) John Kilty, third adjutant general of Maryland, was born in England in the year 1756 and was educated at St. Omer's College, in France. He was appointed by the Convention of Maryland, July 1776, an ensign in Captain Edward Tillard's company of Anne Arundel county militia, in the 3rd Maryland battalion of the Flying Camp, vice John Gassaway, resigned; commissioned a second lieutenant in the 4th Maryland Regiment, 10 December 1776; promoted to first lieutenant 6 November 1777; served in Baylor's 3rd Regiment of Light Dragoons, Continental troops, as lieutenant to 1 February 1782, and as captain from that date to 10 November 1782, when the command was consolidated with the First Continental Dragoons; retained as captain, until 31 December 1782; was "deranged," 1 January 1783. Was appointed captain of an Annapolis cavalry troop attached to the 8th Brigade, Anne Arundel County Light Dragoons, Maryland Militia, 18 June 1794; commissioned brigadier general, 8th brigade, 13 June 1810.
At the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, Kilty was admitted as an original member of The Society of the Cincinnati of Maryland.Thomas, p. 89.
John Kilty was appointed adjutant general of Maryland, 7 July 1810, and served under Governor Edward Lloyd. He was a member of the Governor's Council from 1786 to 1793 and president thereof in 1790, was appointed by President Washington supervisor of the revenue of the United States in Maryland in June 1795 and served as "register of the Land Office" in 1806. He died at his country seat near Annapolis, Maryland on 27 May 1811.
John Gassaway (1811–1817) John Gassaway, fourth adjutant general of Maryland, was born in Anne Arundel county, Maryland, 18 June 1754. Was appointed by the convention of Maryland, 2 January 1776, a sergeant in Captain Nathaniel Ramsey's company, Colonel Smallwood's Maryland battalion; commissioned ensign in Captain Edward Tillard's company of Anne Arundel County militia in the 3rd Maryland battalion of the Flying Camp, July 1776; second lieutenant in Smallwood's battalion, 10 December 1776; first lieutenant, 2nd Maryland regiment, 17 April 1777; promoted to be captain-lieutenant, 1 July 1779; captain in 2nd Maryland regiment, 2 April 1780; taken prisoner at Camden, 16 August 1780 and was prisoner on parole to the close of the Revolutionary War.
After the war, Gassaway was admitted as an original member of The Society of the Cincinnati in the state of MarylandThomas, p. 64. and continued to serve, holding a captaincy in the "Volunteer Company of the city of Annapolis." He was then appointed a major in the 22nd Regiment, (Anne Arundel County), Maryland militia, 18 June 1794; commissioned lieutenant-colonel, commandant, 22nd regiment, 15 September 1795; also for a time, served as brigade inspector, 8th Brigade, Anne Arundel County militia; commissioned a captain in 22nd regiment, 22 March 1808; resigned.
John Gassaway was appointed adjutant general of Maryland, 6 June 1811, and served under Governors Edward Lloyd, Robert Bowie (1811), Levin Winder and Charles Ridgely of Hampton. He was register of wills for Anne Arundel County from 1787 to 1820 and died in Annapolis, Maryland, 25 June 1820.
Richard Harwood, of Thomas (1817–1835) Richard Harwood, of Thomas, fifth adjutant general of Maryland, was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 7 March 1775. Entered the Grammar School of St. John's College, Annapolis, 11 November 1789; entered St. John's College, 1 August 1792, and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, 13 November 1794. Was commissioned lieutenant in Captain John Gwinn's company, 22nd regiment, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, militia, 23 October 1795; resigned, and was commissioned captain; promoted to be a major of the 22nd regiment, 30 July 1800; captain of a select company attached to 22nd regiment, 14 May 1802; re-commissioned major, 10 February 1804; lieutenant-colonel, commandant, 22nd Regiment, 10 March 1808.
Richard Harwood, of Thomas, was appointed adjutant general of Maryland, 30 January 1817, and served under Governors Ridgely, of Hampton, Goldsborough, Sprigg, Stevens, Kent, Daniel Martin (1828), T. K. Carroll, Daniel Martin (1830), Howard, and James Thomas. He was one of the commissioners appointed in 1820, to supervise the erection of the present county Court House in Annapolis. He died at Annapolis, Maryland, 4 April 1835.
John Nelson Watkins (1835–1856) John N. Watkins, sixth adjutant general of Maryland, was born in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, 24 September 1790. Was a member of the class of 1811, St. John's College, Annapolis, but does not appear to have graduated.