John RITCHIE, Congress, MD (1831-1887)

RITCHIE John , a Representative from Maryland; born in Frederick, Frederick County, Md., August 12, 1831; completed preparatory studies at the Frederick Academy; commenced the study of medicine but abandoned it for law; attended the law department of Harvard University; was admitted to the bar and began practice in Frederick in 1854; captain of the Junior Defenders (militia) and was ordered by President Buchanan to the scene of John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry; served as State's attorney for Frederick County 1867-1871; elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871-March 3, 1873); unsuccessful candidate in 1872 for reelection to the Forty-third Congress; resumed the practice of law in Frederick; appointed by Governor Hamilton on March 16, 1881, chief judge of the sixth judicial circuit and associate justice of the court of appeals to fill the unexpired term of Judge Richard Bowie; elected in November 1881 to this office for a term of fifteen years and served until his death in Frederick, Md., October 27, 1887; interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present