Thomas Veazey

Thomas Ward Veazey (January 31, 1774 – July 1, 1842) was a Maryland politician who served in a variety of roles. The zenith of his career was being the 24th governor of the state from 1836 to 1839, when he was selected to serve three consecutive one-year terms by the Maryland General Assembly. Veazey was the last Maryland governor to be elected in this fashion and also the last Whig Party member to serve as Maryland governor.

Early life and family Thomas Ward Veazey was born at "Cherry Grove," in Cecil County, on January 31, 1774. He was the son of Elizabeth (née DeCausey) and Edward Veazey. His father was a Cecil County planter, who served as High Sheriff of Cecil County from 1751 to 1753. His mother and father died when Thomas was young, so the governor was orphaned at an early age. He was married three times, and had a large family. He married his first wife, Sarah Worrell, of Kent County, Maryland, in 1794. She died the following year, leaving a daughter. He then married his first cousin Mary Veazey. She died in 1810, leaving a family of five children. On September 24, 1812, Veazey married Mary Wallace, daughter of George Wallace, of Elkton, by whom he was the father of five additional children. He graduated from Washington College in 1795. During the War of 1812, he was in command of the forces that defended Fredericktown in Cecil County on May 4, 1812. He later served as lieutenant-colonel of the Forty-Ninth Maryland Regiment. He returned to his farm after the war, where he remained until 1833, when he was chosen as a member of the Governor's Council.