Richard Dallam

{{Short description|American politician (1865–1939)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Richard Dallam

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| office = Secretary of State of Maryland

| term_start = 1896

| term_end = 1899

| predecessor = Edwin Gott

| successor = George E. Loweree

| governor = Lloyd Lowndes Jr.

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1865|5|11}}

| birth_place = Bel Air, Maryland, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1939|4|11|1865|5|11}}

| death_place = Bel Air, Maryland, U.S.

| resting_place = Rock Spring Cemetery

| party = Republican

| spouse = {{marriage|Josephine R. Evans|1892}}

| children = 4

| relatives = Israel D. Maulsby (grandfather)
William P. Maulsby (uncle)
John I. Yellott (cousin)

| education =

| alma_mater = University of Maryland School of Law

| occupation = {{hlist|Politician|lawyer}}

| signature =

}}

Richard Dallam (May 11, 1865 – April 11, 1939) was an American politician from Maryland. He served as Secretary of State of Maryland from 1896 to 1899.

Early life

Richard Dallam was born on May 11, 1865, in Bel Air, Maryland, to Mary C. (née Maulsby) and William H. Dallam. His father was state's attorney, deputy collector at the Port of Baltimore, and veteran of the Civil War. Dallam's maternal grandfather was Israel D. Maulsby, state delegate of Harford County.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/portraitbiograph00chap_5/page/n633/mode/2up |title=Portrait and Biographical Record of Harford and Cecil Counties, Maryland |year=1897 |pages=380–381 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-10-18}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-aegis-mr-richard-dallam-dies-at-bel/133637579/ |title=Mr. Richard Dallam Dies at Bel Air Home Tuesday |date=1939-04-14 |newspaper=The Aegis |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-10-18}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/dallamfamilyeffo00dall/page/n79/mode/2up |title=The Dallam Family |last=Dallam |first=David E. |year=1929 |publisher=George H. Buchanan Company |page=38 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-12-27}}{{Open access}} His uncle was William P. Maulsby and cousin was John I. Yellott.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/earlymaltby00barn/page/116/mode/2up |title=Early Maltby |last=Barnard |first=Ella Kent |year=1909 |pages=117–120 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-03-03}} He attended Bel Air Academy and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1888.

Career

After graduating, Dallam practiced law in Bel Air. He was appointed as deputy of the Baltimore customs house under Colonel Webster. He served in that role until 1889. He then continued his law practice.

Dallam was a Republican. In 1896, he was appointed as Secretary of State of Maryland by Governor Lloyd Lowndes Jr. He served in that role until 1899.{{cite web |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/013400/013434/html/13434bio.html |title=Richard Dallam |website=Maryland Manual On-Line |publisher=Maryland State Archives |date= |access-date=2023-10-18}}

Dallam was president of the Harford County Mutual Fire Insurance Company from 1894 to 1939. He was treasurer of the Bel Air Water Works Company.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bwb_P8-CGO-700/page/330/mode/2up |title=Our Harford Heritage |last=Wright |first=C. Milton |year=1967 |page=331 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-12-27}} He was head of Smith-Webster Company, a canned goods brokerage firm. He was a director of the Second National Bank.

Personal life

On November 23, 1892, Dallam married Josephine R. Evans, daughter of Dr. John Evans, of Port Deposit.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-aegis-dallamevans-25-nov-1892-the/137521710/ |title=Dallam–Evans |date=1892-11-25 |newspaper=The Aegis and Intelligencer |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-12-27}}{{Open access}} They had four children, Rebecca, Mary, Richard Jr. and John Evans. He was a member of the Emmanuel Protestant Episcopal Church in Bel Air.

Dallam died on April 11, 1939, at his home on Broadway in Bel Air. He was buried at Rock Spring Cemetery.

References