Career
In 1811 Dorsey was appointed to be the United States. District Attorney for Maryland. Following his term, he was elected to the House of Delegates representing Anne Arundel County as a Republican, but was defeated in his 1814 election. In 1816 and 1821, he became a Senatorial Elector for Anne Arundel County.
In 1824, he was appointed as Chief Judge, First Judicial District.
After 1851, he served on the board of directors of the Patapsco Female Institute. Dorsey is credited in his efforts to convert the Howard District of Anne Arundel, into Howard County, Maryland.
He was also the father of Samuel Worthington Dorsey. Dorsey lived at Mountain. Hebron, a stone home built by his father in 1808.
Dorsey operated a farm at the location with 49 slaves listed in the 1840 census.
As a tobacco farmer, Dorsey"s products were the highest quality of the time fetching a record 319 pounds Sterling at Elkridge Landing for a 707lb hogshead in 1824. Mount Hebron High School, built in 1966, is named after the manor.