Benjamin Tasker Sr. facts for kids

Benjamin Tasker Sr. (born around 1690 – died June 19, 1768) was an important leader in Maryland during the colonial period. He served as the 21st Governor of Maryland from 1752 to 1753. He also held many other important jobs in the government of the colony, including being elected Mayor of Annapolis several times.

Benjamin Tasker's Career

Benjamin Tasker was born around 1690 in Calvert County, Maryland. His parents were Rebecca Isaacs (whose maiden name was Brooke) and Thomas Tasker.

He started his career as a naval officer in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1719 and worked in that role until 1742. He was also very active in both the local city government and the larger colonial government.

Here are some of the roles he held:

• Member and president of the Governor's Council: This was a group of advisors to the governor, from 1722 to 1768.
• Member of the Lower House of the Maryland Legislature: From 1715 to 1717 and again from 1720 to 1722.
• Member of the Upper House: From 1722 to 1766 and again in 1768.
• President of the Upper House: From 1734 to 1766 and again in 1768.
• Annapolis alderman: A city council member in 1720 and from 1754 to 1766.
• Mayor of Annapolis: He served multiple terms, including 1721–1722, 1726–1727, 1747–1748, 1750–1753, and 1756–1757.
• President of the Council: In 1752.
• Acting Governor of Maryland: In 1753.

In October 1731, Tasker helped start the Baltimore Ironworks Company. This was an important business that made iron products.

In 1740, Governor Samuel Ogle had to go to England because England declared war on Spain. Governor Ogle trusted Tasker a lot. He gave Tasker the power to act on his behalf and asked him to oversee the building of a new house at a place called Belair.

Benjamin Tasker's Family

Governor Samuel Ogle, who married Tasker's eldest daughter, Anne.

Benjamin Tasker married Ann Bladen on July 31, 1711. Ann was the daughter of William Bladen, who was the Attorney-General of Maryland. Benjamin and Ann had ten children together.

Some of their notable children include:

• Benjamin Tasker Jr. (1720–1760): He also became Mayor of Annapolis.
• Anne Tasker (1728–1817): She married Governor Samuel Ogle (1694–1752), who was much older than her.
• Rebecca Tasker (1724–1797): She married Daniel Dulany the Younger in 1749.
• Elizabeth Tasker (1726–1789): She married Christopher Lowndes (1713–1785), a merchant from Bladensburg, Maryland, in 1747.
• Frances Ann Tasker (1738–1787): She married a wealthy planter named Robert Carter III (from Nominy, Virginia) in 1754 when she was sixteen.

Death and Legacy

Benjamin Tasker Sr. passed away on June 19, 1768, in Annapolis. He was buried in St. Anne's Churchyard in Annapolis. His tombstone shares that he lived to be 78 years old and was known for his good character and kindness. It also mentions that he was President of the Council for 32 years. People respected and loved him very much.

Newspaper advertisement for the sale of Tasker's estate Belle Air in 1771

Today, Benjamin Tasker Middle School, located in Bowie, Maryland, is named after him.