William Richardson (Maryland politician)
William Richardson was a Maryland politician and Continental Army officer. Richardson served in the Maryland Assembly from 1773–1776, introducing the bill that formed Caroline County in 1774. As Colonel of the 5th Maryland Regiment of the First Maryland Brigade, he participated in Battle of Harlem Heights in 1776, moved the Continental Treasury from Philadelphia to Baltimore in 1777, and fought at the Battle of Camden in 1780. In later life he also served as a Presidential Elector.
Colonel Richardson High School and Colonel Richardson Middle School in Federalsburg, Maryland are named for him.
Richardson, like many wealthy Marylanders of his time, was a slaveholder. In his will of June 19, 1823, Richardson made bequests of over fifty enslaved persons to approximately thirty of his own family members.
