Col. John Eager Howard (1752-1827)
of "Belvidere" Baltimore; U.S. Senator & Governor of Maryland
He was born at "Belvidere" near Baltimore which he later rebuilt (see images). He was commissioned as a Captain in the Continental Army, rising to the rank of Colonel. General Nathanael Greene said of him: He is, "as good an officer as the world affords. He has great ability and the best disposition to promote the service... He deserves a statue of gold." After the War he entered politics. He was elected the 5th Governor of Maryland (1788-91), Member of the Maryland Senate (1791-95), U.S. Senator from Maryland (1796-1803), and for seven days in November 1800 he was President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate. An original member of the Society of the Cincinnati, he was President of the Maryland Society (1804-27). In 1787, he married Peggy, daughter of Chief Justice Benjamin Chew and they had eight children who survived to adulthood. Soon after his marriage, he rebuilt "Belvidere" (see images). His heirs sold the property in 1841 to John S. McKim and the house was razed in 1875-1876 for the extension of Calvert Street.
