Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-06-26
Death of Hon. Richard Il. Merrick

Hon. Richard L. Merrick, the distip-
guished lawyer of Washington, d. c., died
at his home in thai city on Tuesday morn
| ing about 10 o'clock. We reported his
dangerous illness last week, but expressed
a hope, which then seemed justitiable, of
his recovery. The crisis OF his malady
was reached on Monday and, though his
remarkable vitality gave his physicians
hopes to the last he died as stated on
Tuesday morning, without regaining con
seriousness, having lain in an unconscious
condition for more than a week previous
to his death
In the death of Mr. Merrck the legal
profession has lost one of it's brightest or
aaments and most honored members and
the country one of her most puhlic spirit
ed and patriotic citizens. The de 9TH o'
such man is public cal nifty. He was
a gentleman of rare inte lectual endnw-
ments and much culture a lawyer of great
depth of learning; an orator of eXtraordi
nary eloquence IN accomplished scholar
an able, Sc reliant, but warm hearred and
humane man. In pc son he WAS unusual
| ly handsome and attractive and in manner
refined, genial and fascinating. He had
host of admiring friends, who were bound
to him by the strongest ties of affectionate
attachment. While his eminent' talents,
high integrity of character and dist
guished services had made tor him re-
putation throughout the country as an able
awyer and pure and patriotic citizen, his
memory will endure longest in the minds
of those who from personal contact with
| aim came under the Influence Of his kind
and atfe:tionate nature and genial, llsci,
mating manner. The writer of this, dur
ing several years spent as student in his
| office, learned W III II honor, admire and
love the great and good man who is gone
and will ever hold him in atfecti1n,te re
membrance.
MIR. Merrick was native OF This county
and he often referred with pleasure to the
days of his boyhood here and of daid lang
syne. He is remembered by many of our
people who will be numbered among those
who loved him living, and who mourn
him dead
SKETCH OF MR. NEREICK's CAREER.
| Richard Thomas Merrick was born January
,. ISIS, In Charles county, Md, and WAS one of
three sons OF VIM. Il. Merrick. prominent man
N Mary land politics, and Inited states senator
! from ISIS To ISIS. He was educated at t,corg,-
town University. and took n later course at
4 BFlncHiDti Ut. fed n \ he
outbreak OF the Mexican the Third United
states Dragons was ORGANIZED ana h. was conn
miS>ioued by President Polk ~ captain Of the
ltrOope raised in Maryland. and served with dis
lunguished gallautTy in the campaign from Vera
Cruz to the city OF Mexico. aud was especially
mentioned IN one OF Cen SCOTS ofiicia! reports
Tor gallantry. lie was the Youngest man who
lever held "a captain commission in the regular
army, and celebrated his nineteenth birthday "a
Mexico.
ON his return from Mexico he entered actively
IA the practice Of his profession and also r,rri-
ratgd in politics. representing his native county
ltn the Maryland Legislature. Before the war
between the states he went To- Chicago aud en-
tered INTO law Copartu"r>htp with a leading
member OF the bar Of that city and personal
friend Of his lie "a delegate from Illinois tn
ne democratic national convention OF loi. ami
from hr>t 10 last was the earnest, answering
supporter OF stephen A. douglas In .Ssi Mr.
MerricN married daughter ot las. &. MCtiLire.
II Washington. aud shortly thereafter removed
from Chicago to Washington. In the twenty
years that he pracIiced In " Washington he held a
Commanding position In the Iiu. ol ais profession
and was engaged A. counsel in Snrne 81 the most
important ca2e> before the bench ~ the District
| Il Columbia, a. we'll Is the supreme Court NJ the
Il United States. He WAS Of the principal
counsel before the electoral commission, and
z ere iaiteriy he WAS Tor months daily t-fnrs the
ioiie In his able prosecution OF The star-ruute
~ sses Mr.. MeTrick was also quite frequently
piled to conduct important cases bsfore the
Y vpaT.ssts@~ ef1rssrC<s- ffr nt-Trr a rsfll1-
e for any political position since the war, *.
Opt upon one occasion when hp tii, dc ~
cratic candidate Tor Delegate ~ Congress from
the District Of Columbia. when the District a.
under the tcrrifnr. al form of government y +.
lpmaD. his repUh lean com g-'t5toT ~ ~lHetssi
Mr.. NcTrck. however. aiwa"> took mach iDfrr-
st ia both national and state pp.llir a13 .u
tile last few years WAS several Times on Ihr stump
~ Howard county. OF which ne was q citizen sud
where lac owned tiuP estate. tie Ha1 - most
extensive a. ainttuc- and friendship Sfupag
the eminent members II his profession In all
parts Of the country. and was the friend aud
>pciaie ol many NJ the !rglaE public men at both
parties who have h,-ea IN Washington IN the iast
twenty years He wa> celebrated through the
country an orator and during the last pTr->i-
Dental campaign WAS called upon - take tha
stump IN number % Northern auJ Western
states.