George Brent (judge)

George Brent Jr. (September 28, 1817 – January 6, 1881)^[1] was a justice of the Maryland Court of Appeals from 1867 to 1881.^[2]

Born in Charles County, Maryland, to George and Matilda (Thomas) Brent, his father's ancestors (including lawyer/nun Margaret Brent) had owned land in that area of Maryland since about 1640.

Brent represented Charles County several times in the state legislature, and was a member of the state constitutional convention in 1850. He was "recognized as a lawyer of distinguished ability", and, as a judge, "presided over his court with much ease and decorum, his decisions showing great research and legal knowledge and acumen".^[1] Following a restructuting of the court in 1867, Brent was elected chief judge of the seventh circuit, and therefore a member of the court of appeals, without opposition.^[3] Brent served until his death of heart disease at his home in Charles County, following a lengthy illness, at the age of 63.^[1]

Brent was married to his cousin, Catherine Merrick, with whom he had eleven children.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Death of Judge Brent", Alexandria Gazette (January 7, 1881), p. 2.
^ "Maryland Court of Appeals Judges, 1778–". Archives of Maryland. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
^ The Court of Appeals of Maryland, A History, Archives of Maryland, accessed February 1, 2023.
^ "The Brent Family", The Lookout (February 24, 1917), Vol. 18, No. 18, p. 4.