Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Spence, John Selby

SPENCE, John Selby, senator, b. near Snow Hill, Worcester co., Md., 29 Feb., 1788; d. near Berlin, Worcester co., Md., 24 Oct., 1840. His ancestors came to Snow Hill from Scotland about 1680. He was educated at district schools in Worcester and Somerset counties, received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania about 1809, and practised his profession in Maryland until his death. After serving in the legislature he was elected to congress as a Democrat, serving from 1 Dec., 1823, till 3 March, 1825, and again from 5 Dec., 1831, till 2 March, 1833. He was elected U. S. senator to succeed Robert H. Goldsborough, serving from 11 Jan., 1837, till his death, which occurred at the country-seat of his family near Berlin.—His brother Ara served in the legislature, and was chief justice of the 4th judicial circuit of Maryland, comprising the lower counties: and another brother, Irving, was the author of “Early History of the Presbyterian Church” (Philadelphia, 1838).—His nephew, Thomas Adam, lawyer, b. in Accomac county, Va., 20 Feb., 1810; d. in Washington, D. C., 10 Nov., 1877, was graduated at Yale in 1829, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practised in Snow Hill, Md. He was elected a representative to congress as a Whig and served from 4 Dec., 1843, till 3 March, 1845. In 1872-'7 he was assistant attorney-general for the U. S. post-office department.