John Stuart Skinner
| John Stuart Skinner | |
|---|---|
| Born |
February 22, 1788 Carroll County, Maryland, United States |
| Died | March 21, 1851(age 63) Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
| Occupation | lawyer, publisher, editor |
| Parent(s) | Fredrick Skinner, Elizabeth Steward |
John Stuart Skinner (22 February 1788 – 21 March 1851) was an American lawyer, publisher, and editor.
Skinner began practicing law as an attorney at the age of twenty-one in 1809. On March 10, 1812, he married Elizabeth G. Davies, the step-daughter of Theodorick Bland. Also in 1812, President James Madison made a special commission and selected Skinner to become a government agent "to receive and forward the ocean mails, to furnish the vessels with necessary supplies, and to see that nothing transpired prejudicial to the interests of the republic or offensive to enemies thus admitted under the guardianship of a flag of truce."
Skinner soon obtained the duty of agent for prisoners-of-war and parole. In 1813 Skinner was ordered to move his offices from Annapolis to Baltimore. He then accepted a purser's commission in the navy for the duration of the war.
On September 3, 1814, Skinner, as the prisoner-of-war exchange officer, was selected with Francis Scott Key, (1779–1843) by fourth President James Madison for a mission to release Dr. William Beanes, (1775–1824), who was being held prisoner by the British. Skinner and Key went on board General Ross's ship on September 7, the HMS Tonnant that was anchored in the Chesapeake Bay. [Robert Ross being a general in the British Army would not have "had" a ship. The Tonnant was the flagship of the British Admiral in command, Alexander Cochrane and it would have been he, not Ross who would have made the determination to release Beanes.] They were carrying a flag of truce and a letter authorized by President Madison setting out the case that Dr. Beanes should not have been arrested and taken prisoner because he had been an unarmed civilian when he previously arrested some British soldiers.
Skinner even had letters from these British soldiers that he presented to Ross praising the American doctors on how well the British soldiers were treated. This was an argument that Ross should release Dr. Beanes because of this excellent medical care. It is not known for sure if Dr. Beanes, being a medical doctor, was among those that treated the wounded British soldiers. Skinner with Key negotiated with Ross for nearly a week on board his ship and finally Ross agreed to release Beanes.
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