James Black Groome
| James Black Groome | |
|---|---|
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| 36th Governor of Maryland | |
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In office March 4, 1874 – January 12, 1876 |
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| Preceded by | William Pinkney Whyte |
| Succeeded by | John Lee Carroll |
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United States Senator from Maryland |
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In office March 4, 1879 – March 4, 1885 |
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| Preceded by | George R. Dennis |
| Succeeded by | Ephraim K. Wilson |
| Maryland House of Delegates | |
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In office 1872–1874 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | April 4, 1838 Elkton, Maryland |
| Died | October 5, 1893 (aged 55) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Alice Leigh Edmonson |
| Children | one child |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| National Governors Association, Governor's Information, Maryland Governor James Black Groome | |
James Black Groome (April 4, 1838 – October 5, 1893), a member of the United States Democratic Party, was the 36th Governor of Maryland in the United States from 1874 to 1876. He was also a member of the United States Senate, representing Maryland, from 1879–1885.
Groome was born in Elkton, Maryland and completed preparatory studies in the Tennent School of Hartsville, Pennsylvania, with hopes of attending Princeton University. However, a severe injury during that time that left him sickly the rest of his life forced him to abandon his college aspirations. Groome instead studied law with his father—the wealthy and former gubernatorial candidate Colonel John Groome—and was admitted to the bar in 1861. Due to his ill health, Groome did not serve during the American Civil War.
In 1867, Groome was a strong voice in favor of a new constitution for the state of Maryland, and served as a representative from Cecil County, Maryland to the state constitutional convention that same year. He was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1871, 1872, and 1873, and was highly regarded among his colleagues from the Maryland Eastern Shore. At one point in 1872, Groome was even considered as a candidate for the U.S. Senate by the House of Delegates.
In 1874, the House of Delegates elected Governor William Pinkney Whyte to the U.S. Senate, leaving the governor's seat vacant. Groome was by far the most popular candidate in the special election that was held in the House of Delegates, and was elected governor at the age of 35, receiving 62 of the 70 votes cast. As governor, Groome's administration was rather unspectacular, as many of the necessary appointments had been made by his predecessor before his resignation. Groome even commented that he felt he had no other tasks besides attending banquets and awarding prizes and diplomas. Groome did make several recommendations to the legislature during his tenure, however, including the implementation of glass ballot boxes in elections to reduce fraud, and a full re-assessment of value and property of the state.
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