British Colony Governor of Maryland. He is remembered for serving in many elected and appointed offices, but the most significant in his political career was from 1752 to 1753 as the 21stgovernor of the restored proprietary government of the Colony of Maryland. He was a naval officer until 1742 before entering politics. He served in the Annapolis municipal government along with provincial government as a member of the President of the Governor's Council from 1722 to 1768; member of the Maryland legislature serving the lower house of the from 1715 to 1722 and the upper house from 1722 to 1766 again in 1768 and President of the Upper House from 1734 to 1766; and acting Governor of Maryland from 1752 to 1753. He was the Annapolis Alderman in 1720 and from 1754 to 1766. He was Mayor of Annapolis from 1721 to 1722, 1726 to 1727, 1747 to 1748, 1750 to 1753 and 1756 to 1757 and President of the Council in 1752. Several newspaper articles documenting his services are available at the Maryland archives including his obituary in “The Maryland Gazzett” dated June 23, 1768 and the sell of his estate in Belle Air in 1771. He was one of the founders of the Baltimore Ironwork Company in 1731. In 1740, Governor Samuel Ogle was dispatched to England following England's declaration of war against Spain and while he was in England,Tasker was given the governor's power of attorney in Maryland, while he was also the mayor of Annapolis. He was the son of Thomas Tasker and his wife, Rebecca Isaacs, whose mother was a Sharpe. He married Anne, the daughter of Maryland's attorney general, William Bladen, and they had ten children. His oldest daughter, Anne, was the wife of Colonial Governor of Maryland, Samuel Ogle. Two of his children were in the business of slave trading, Benjamin, Jr and daughter Elizabeth's husband Christoper Lowndes. Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, Maryland, is named in honor of Governor Tasker. Horatio Sharpe succeeded Tasker in the office of Governor of Maryland. According to Helen West Rigely's 1908 book, “Historical Graves of Maryland and the District of Columbia”, Tasker's original gravestone had decayed and was replaced in 1826 by Mrs. Ann Dulany of London, England in the respect of her ancestors.
British Colony Governor of Maryland. He is remembered for serving in many elected and appointed offices, but the most significant in his political career was from 1752 to 1753 as the 21stgovernor of the restored proprietary government of the Colony of Maryland. He was a naval officer until 1742 before entering politics. He served in the Annapolis municipal government along with provincial government as a member of the President of the Governor's Council from 1722 to 1768; member of the Maryland legislature serving the lower house of the from 1715 to 1722 and the upper house from 1722 to 1766 again in 1768 and President of the Upper House from 1734 to 1766; and acting Governor of Maryland from 1752 to 1753. He was the Annapolis Alderman in 1720 and from 1754 to 1766. He was Mayor of Annapolis from 1721 to 1722, 1726 to 1727, 1747 to 1748, 1750 to 1753 and 1756 to 1757 and President of the Council in 1752. Several newspaper articles documenting his services are available at the Maryland archives including his obituary in “The Maryland Gazzett” dated June 23, 1768 and the sell of his estate in Belle Air in 1771. He was one of the founders of the Baltimore Ironwork Company in 1731. In 1740, Governor Samuel Ogle was dispatched to England following England's declaration of war against Spain and while he was in England,Tasker was given the governor's power of attorney in Maryland, while he was also the mayor of Annapolis. He was the son of Thomas Tasker and his wife, Rebecca Isaacs, whose mother was a Sharpe. He married Anne, the daughter of Maryland's attorney general, William Bladen, and they had ten children. His oldest daughter, Anne, was the wife of Colonial Governor of Maryland, Samuel Ogle. Two of his children were in the business of slave trading, Benjamin, Jr and daughter Elizabeth's husband Christoper Lowndes. Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie, Maryland, is named in honor of Governor Tasker. Horatio Sharpe succeeded Tasker in the office of Governor of Maryland. According to Helen West Rigely's 1908 book, “Historical Graves of Maryland and the District of Columbia”, Tasker's original gravestone had decayed and was replaced in 1826 by Mrs. Ann Dulany of London, England in the respect of her ancestors.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Inscription
Here are deposited the remains of the Honourable Benjamin Tasker who departed this 1life the 19th of June AD 1768 in the 78th year of his Age which though of a constitution naturally weak and tender he attained through the efficiency of an exemplary temperance At the time of his decease he was President of the Council a station he had occupied for thirty two years The offices of Agent and receiver general and judge of the prerogative Court he successively exercised Such were his qualities his probity equanimity candor benevolence that no one was more respected more beloved So diffusive and pure his humanity so singular the influence of his deportment that he was no one's enemy nor any one his.
Family Members
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