James M. Schley

James McCannon Schley (died November 15, 1883) was an American politician and lawyer from Maryland. He served as a member of the Maryland House of Delegates, representing Frederick County from 1841 to 1842 and representing Allegany County from 1845 to 1846.

Early life

James McCannon Schley was born in Frederick, Maryland, to Eliza Asbury (née McCannon) and Frederick Augustus Schley. His father was a lawyer in western Maryland. His great-grandfather John Thomas Schley built the first house in Frederick in 1746. He graduated from Princeton College. He studied law in Frederick and was admitted to the bar. He then declined a nomination for the state senate. He was appointed as deputy state's attorney of Allegany County by Governor Enoch Louis Lowe. In 1855, he was elected as state's attorney of Allegany County and served in that role for nine years. He again refused nomination for the state senate. He commanded a rifle company in Frederick. He also commanded the Cumberland Guards in 1855 and he commanded the Allegany Guards militia. He and the Allegany Guards were present at the Inauguration of James Buchanan.