George Dent

For the English footballer, seeGeorge Dent (footballer).

George Dent(1756 – December 2, 1813) was anAmericanplanter and politician fromMarylandwho served in theHouse of Representativesfrom 1793 to 1801.

Early life

Dent was born on his father's estate, "Windsor Castle", on theMattawoman CreekinCharles County.His father, GeneralJohn Dent(1733-1809), was a planter who was a patriot during theRevolutionary War.

Revolutionary War

He initially served during theRevolutionary Warin 1776 as a 1st lieutenant in the Third Battalion of theFlying CampfromMaryland.After theFlying Campwas disbanded in December 1776, Dent returned toMarylandand was commissioned a 1st lieutenant in theCharles Countymilitia under Captain Thomas H. Marshall. He was subsequently promoted to captain and assigned to the Twenty-sixth Battalion in May 1778.

Political career

After the war, Dent served as a member of theMaryland House of Delegatesfrom 1782 to 1790, where he was speakerpro temporein 1788 andspeakerin 1789 and 1790. He served as the justice of theCharles CountyCourt in 1791 and 1792, and as member of theMaryland Senatein 1791 and 1792, where he wasPresident of the Senateduring the latter year until his resignation on December 21, 1792.

In 1792, Dent was elected as a Pro-Administration candidate to the Third Congress and reelected as aFederalistto the Fourth through Sixth Congresses, serving from March 4, 1793, to March 3, 1801. In Congress, Dent served as chairman of theCommittee on Elections(Sixth Congress). He also served as Speaker pro tempore of the House at various times from 1797 to 1799.

Upon leaving Congress, Dent was appointed by PresidentThomas JeffersonasUnited States marshalof the District Court for the Potomac District atWashington, D.C.,on April 4, 1801.

Family and later life

His father had been ageneralduring theRevolutionary War.His grandfather, George Dent, had been Chief Justice ofMaryland.JudgeThomas Dent, Sr.was his grandfather's grandfather. The Dent family had been part ofMarylandsociety from the very beginning of the colony. His son was naval hero of theBarbary Wars,CaptainJohn H. Dent.George Dent left his family and public service behind when he moved toGeorgiain 1802 and settled about twelve miles fromAugusta.He died in 1813 in a horseback riding accident and is interred on his plantation.

References

• United States Congress."George Dent (id: D000254)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.