The beginning of a new year marked the end of an era in Southern Maryland. “It’s the passing of an age,” said St. Mary’s County Commissioners’ President Jack Russell [D] in reaction to the death of John Hanson Briscoe. The St. Mary’s County political and judicial icon was 79 when he died peacefully at his home Jan. 1 after a lengthy struggle with cancer.
His career in the Maryland General Assembly included a seven-year tenure as the speaker of the House of Delegates. In 1986 Briscoe was appointed to the bench of the St. Mary’s County Circuit Court.
Briscoe’s contributions to preserving the history of St. Mary’s County might be sufficient for his service as presidents of both the Historic St. Mary’s City Commission and the St. Mary’s County Historical Society and his leadership role with the Historic Sotterley Foundation.
However, according to Senator Roy Dyson [D-District 29], Briscoe made one huge contribution few people, even some his own family members, were unaware of. “He saved Maryland’s birthplace,” said Dyson, who explained St. Clement’s Island “would be gone today” if Briscoe hadn’t spearheaded efforts to shore up the eroding tract. “If it wasn’t for his vision Maryland’s first landing wouldn’t be here,” said Dyson.
“He was a lifelong friend,” said Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. [D-District 27], who came to know Briscoe during the 1960s. “He was a star performer, hard-working and talented.”
“He was a very good legislator,” said Russell, who added Briscoe had a statewide reputation for “working across the aisle. That’s what we’re missing today.”
Russell noted that he and Briscoe shared a kinship as “progressive Democrats” and the elder statesman always had words of council to offer. “He always had plenty of advice, but he wasn’t domineering about it,” said Russell.
“He was the last speaker of the House who really understood rural Marylanders,” said Dyson, who served in the Ho
