About Philip Key
Lived 1750 – 1820 (aged 69–70). Philip Key was an American politician and lawyer.
Philip Key (1750 – January 4, 1820) was an American congressional representative from Maryland.
Key was the son of Dr. John Key and was probably born on his father's estate near Leonardtown, Maryland. His father died in 1755, leaving his grandfather and later his uncles to act as his guardians. He pursued an academic course in England. Key eventually returned to Maryland and engaged in farming, he then began to study law and was later admitted to the bar and practiced.
Key served in the Maryland House of Delegates in 1773, he then became a member of the committee of correspondence for St. Mary's County, in 1774. He again served as a member of the House of Delegates during 1779–1790. Key was then elected to the Second Congress, and represented the 1st Congressional district of Maryland from March 4, 1791 – March 3, 1793. Key then returned to the House of Delegates in 1795 and 1796 where he served as speaker.
Key died in Chaptico, Maryland, and is likely interred in the churchyard there.
Key is also the cousin of Philip Barton Key and great-grandfather of Barnes Compton.
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Important facts
People in Philip Key's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Philip Key's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Philip Key?
American politician (1750-1820)
When was Philip Key born?
Philip Key was born in 1750 in St. Mary's County.
When did Philip Key die?
Philip Key died on 4 January 1820 in St. Mary's County.
What was Philip Key's occupation?
Philip Key was a politician and lawyer.
What nationality was Philip Key?
Philip Key was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Philip Key (American politician)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Philip Key. https://biography.guide/philip-key/
MLA: "Philip Key." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/philip-key/.
Chicago: "Philip Key." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/philip-key/.
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