Statesman; born in
Dorchester county, Md., Sept. 2, 1798; was a farmer in early life; was often in the State legislature, and was governor of the commonwealth from 1858 to 1862.
He was elected to the United States Senate in 1862, for the unexpired term of a deceased
Senator, and re-elected for the term ending in 1867.
When the
Civil War broke out,
Governor Hicks stood firmly for the
Union.
He declared, in a proclamation after the attack on the
Massachusetts regiment in
Baltimore (April 19, 1861), that all his authority would be exercised in support of the government (see
Baltimore). By his patriotism and firmness,
Maryland was saved from attempting secession from the
Union.
He died in
Washington, D. C., Feb. 13, 1865.