Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Maryland. Born in Charles County, Maryland, not far from the present-day Washington, DC. He borrowed money to study law in the Annapolis office of Thomas Johnson, who later became Maryland’s first state governor. For several years, he practiced law in Frederick, Maryland, and in 1768, he married Margaret Brown, with whom he had three children. Seeking a quiet life, the family settled on a farm in Charles County in 1771 where he continued to practice law. By the early 1770s, he had made a name for himself as an opponent of British policies towards the colonies. In December 1774, he was elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, and his took his seat in May 1775. Stone rarely spoke in Congress, and although he favored independence for the colonies, he initially urged a policy of reconciliation and negotiation with Britain. Even after he signed the Declaration of Independence, he still favored finding some way to make peace with Britain. While in Congress, he served on the committee that created the Articles of Confederation. After the war, he was elected to the Maryland senate three times, dying during his third term. In 1787, he was elected to represent Maryland at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, but held off going because his wife was extremely ill. When Margaret died in June 1787, he was so grief-stricken that he gave up his law practice and died just four months after his wife’s passing, dying of grief at the age of 44.
Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Maryland. Born in Charles County, Maryland, not far from the present-day Washington, DC. He borrowed money to study law in the Annapolis office of Thomas Johnson, who later became Maryland’s first state governor. For several years, he practiced law in Frederick, Maryland, and in 1768, he married Margaret Brown, with whom he had three children. Seeking a quiet life, the family settled on a farm in Charles County in 1771 where he continued to practice law. By the early 1770s, he had made a name for himself as an opponent of British policies towards the colonies. In December 1774, he was elected as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, and his took his seat in May 1775. Stone rarely spoke in Congress, and although he favored independence for the colonies, he initially urged a policy of reconciliation and negotiation with Britain. Even after he signed the Declaration of Independence, he still favored finding some way to make peace with Britain. While in Congress, he served on the committee that created the Articles of Confederation. After the war, he was elected to the Maryland senate three times, dying during his third term. In 1787, he was elected to represent Maryland at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, but held off going because his wife was extremely ill. When Margaret died in June 1787, he was so grief-stricken that he gave up his law practice and died just four months after his wife’s passing, dying of grief at the age of 44.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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