Background
John was born in 1705 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. His father John Brice and mother Sarah Brice (née Howard) were already prominent settlers.
John was born in 1705 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. His father John Brice and mother Sarah Brice (née Howard) were already prominent settlers.
John Junior. entered public service as the clerk of Anne Arundel County in 1738 and served in that post for many years. He enter politics as an alderman in Annapolis shortly after. He was appointed to the Maryland Court in 1751 and was named to the Governor"s Council.
He would serve in both offices until his death, and by the end of his term on the court he was the chief justice.
He served twice as the Mayor of Annapolis (1755–1756 and 1762–1763). Brice held a number of Proprietary appointments and, politically, was a Loyalist.
In an open letter dated July 18, 1766 (the year of Brice"s death) Chase attacked Brice, Walter Dulany, George Steuart (1700–1784), and others for publishing an article in the Maryland Gazette Extraordinary of June 19, 1766, in which Chase had been accused of being: "a busy, reckless incendiary, a ringleader of mobs, a foul-mouthed and inflaming son of discord and faction, a common disturber of the public tranquility". In his response, Chase accused Brice and the others of "vanity..pride and arrogance", and of being brought to power by "proprietary influence, court favour, and the wealth and influence of the tools and favourites who infest this city." In particular Chase accused Brice of "spleen and bitterness", and a "passion for wealth" which had led him into "formidable frowns and opposition" to Chase.
Brice died in 1766 and hence did not live to see the end of British rule in Maryland.
However, both of Brice"s sons would follow him into politics. Both were elected to terms as Mayor of Annapolis, and in addition James Brice would become Governor of a free Maryland.
He was a member of the Governor"s Council, twice Mayor of Annapolis, and a chief justice in the colony"s court.