William Bladen facts for kids
William Bladen (1672–1718) was an important lawyer and government official in Maryland, which is now part of the United States. He was born in England and later became the Attorney-General of Maryland. For a short time, he also served as the Secretary of the Province. William Bladen was the father of Thomas Bladen, who later became the Governor of Maryland. His brother was Colonel Martin Bladen, a key member of the Board of Trade and Plantations, which managed trade for the British Empire. His nephew was Admiral Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, a famous naval leader.
Early Life and Family
William Bladen was born in England and was baptized on March 21, 1672. He grew up in Steeton, Yorkshire. His parents were Nathaniel Bladen and Isabella Fairfax. William's father, Nathaniel, was also a lawyer. He worked for powerful people in England, like the Duke of Leeds. Through his mother, William was connected to the important Fairfax family.
Moving to Maryland
After studying law in England, William Bladen moved to Maryland in 1692. He traveled with the new Governor, Lionel Copley, who knew William's family well. Governor Copley wanted William to help him with legal and business matters. Sadly, Governor Copley died within a year of arriving. However, William had already started getting important jobs in the colony.
William's Many Roles
William Bladen took on many different jobs in Maryland. There weren't enough skilled people to fill all the government positions, so William often held several jobs at the same time! This showed how important and trusted he was.
Some of his key roles included:
- Clerk of Courts: He worked as a clerk for various courts, helping to manage legal documents and records.
- Clerk of the Lower House: He helped organize the meetings and records of the colony's law-making body.
- Surveyor and Searcher of Annapolis: He helped manage trade and customs in the city of Annapolis.
- Clerk of the Council: He worked for the Governor's Council, which advised the Governor.
- Secretary of Maryland: In 1701, William briefly became the Secretary of Maryland. This was a very high-ranking position, but he held it for only a few months.
- Attorney-General of Maryland: In 1704, William Bladen became the Attorney-General of Maryland. This meant he was the chief legal officer for the colony, representing the government in legal matters. He held this important job until he passed away in 1718.
- Alderman of Annapolis: In 1708, he became one of the first six Aldermen of Annapolis, helping to govern the city.
Marriage and Children
In 1695, William Bladen married Anne van Swearingen in Maryland. Anne's father was Garrett van Swearingen, who had come from the Netherlands. William and Anne had several children.
Their children included:
- Anne Bladen (1696–1775): She married Benjamin Tasker Sr., who later became the Governor of Maryland. Their children and grandchildren married into other important families in Maryland, like the Carter and Ogle families. Many of these family members also held high political jobs.
- Thomas Bladen (1698–1780): He also became a very important figure, serving as the Governor of Maryland. Thomas married Barbara Janssen. Her sister, Mary, was married to Charles Calvert, who was the Proprietary Governor of Maryland. This meant William's family was connected to the powerful Calvert family who owned Maryland.
- Other children included Christopher, Priscilla, Martin, and William.
Through his son Thomas's daughter, William Bladen's family also connected with the Capel family, who were the Earls of Essex in England.
