US Congressman. He attended local schools, and later Bel Air Academy (or Bel Air High School), in Bel Air, Maryland, and Princeton College (later Princeton University) in Princeton, New Jersey, where he graduated from in 1848. Born at 'Medical Hall' near Churchville, Maryland, he studied law and was admitted to the bar shortly thereafter in 1850. He began practicing that same year and eventually opened his own law office with his friend Mr. E. H. Webster. He then decided to enter politics and served as a Member of the Maryland State House of Delegates in 1854. A Democrat, he then served Maryland's 2nd District in the United States House of Representatives from 1867 to 1875. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874. He also served as a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Maryland in 1868 and 1876, Maryland Democratic State Chair from 1887 to 1889, and as Maryland State Treasurer from 1886 to 1890. In April of 1890 following a lengthy investigation, he was removed from office as state treasurer and charged with embezzling money in the amount of $132,000, belonging to the state. He wrote a letter to the court that said, "No part of the State's money or securities was ever used by me in gambling, stock speculation, or for political purposes; nor have I at this time one dollar of it left." He was found guilty and sentenced to five years in prison, but was eventually pardoned by the Maryland Governor in May 1894 due to poor health. After being pardoned, he returned to the practice of law for a short time. He passed away from the effects of Brights Disease in the Baltimore City Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 70. His father Stevenson Archer and his grandfather, John Archer were both United States Congressman from the State of Maryland. His sister Pamelia H. Archer was the mother of George Earle Chamberlain, who served as the 11th Governor of Oregon from 1903 to 1909 and a United States Senator from the State of Oregon from 1909 to 1921.