Matthew Ridley (1746-1789)
Agent for the firm of Stewart & Campbell in Virginia & Maryland
He was born in England and settled in Baltimore circa 1770 as the manager of the Maryland branch of the London mercantile firm of Stewart & Campbell. On the outbreak of the Revolution, he returned to England and tried to continue business as best he could before moving to France in 1778 where his political views were less likely to land him in trouble. By 1779, he had returned to Maryland, leaving his family in Europe. In 1781, he was appointed agent for the State of Maryland and was sent to Europe to secure a loan. Spending time in Paris and Amsterdam, he became associated with Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. After his first wife died in 1784 he spent time in London before returning to Baltimore where he was remarried in 1786 and died in 1789.
