Thomas S. Wootton
| Thomas S. Wootton | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1st Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates | |
|
In office 1777 | |
| Governor | Thomas Johnson |
| Preceded by | Office Established |
| Succeeded by | Nicholas Thomas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1740 |
| Died | 1789 |
| Political party | None |
Dr. Thomas Sprigg Wootton (c. 1740 – 1789) a member of the Maryland Constitutional Convention, was the founder of Montgomery County, Maryland, by introducing a bill in the Maryland General Assembly on September 6, 1776 to divide Frederick into three counties---Frederick, Montgomery, and Washington. These were the first counties in America to be established by elected representatives. The names selected for the new counties also broke with tradition. Earlier counties had all been named for old world figures such as Prince George and Queen Anne, but these were named after two popular Americans of the time—George Washington and Richard Montgomery.
The Thomas Sprigg Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland is named after him.
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