William Richardson (Maryland politician)

William Richardson (1735–1825) was a Maryland politician and Continental Army officer. Richardson served in the Maryland Assembly from 1773–1776, introducing the bill that formed Caroline County in 1774.[1] As Colonel of the 5th Maryland Regiment[2] of the Maryland Line,[3] he participated in the Battle of Harlem Heights in 1776, and later moved the Continental Treasury from Philadelphia to Baltimore in 1777. He was a delegate to the Maryland State Convention of 1788, to vote whether Maryland should ratify the proposed Constitution of the United States.[4] He fought at the Battle of Camden in 1780.[5] In later life he also served as a Presidential Elector.[6]

Colonel Richardson High School[7] and Colonel Richardson Middle School in Federalsburg, Maryland are named for him.

Richardson, like many wealthy Marylanders of his time, was a slaveholder. In his will of June 19, 1823, Richardson made bequests of over fifty enslaved persons to approximately thirty of his own family members.[8]