Background
Merrick, William Duhurst was born on October 25, 1793 in Annapolis, Maryland, United States.
politician United States senator
Merrick, William Duhurst was born on October 25, 1793 in Annapolis, Maryland, United States.
He later graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, District of Columbia He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Portuguese Tobacco, Maryland.
Merrick held several local offices and served in the War of 1812. He was the register of wills of Charles County, Maryland from 1825 to 1832. From 1832 to 1838, Merrick served in the Maryland House of Delegates.
He was elected as a Whig to the United States Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Joseph Kent.
He was reelected in 1839 and served from January 4, 1838 to March 3, 1845. He was again elected to the House of Delegates, and served from January 1856 until his death in Washington, District of Columbia
In the Senate, Kent served as chairman of the Committee on the District of Columbia (Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses), as a member of the Committee on Post Office and Post Roads (Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Congresses). After his service in the Senate, Merrick served as a member of the State constitutional convention in 1850.
Children include William Matthew.