Alexander Armstrong (Maryland politician)
Alexander Armstrong III | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 June 1877 Hagerstown, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | 20 November 1939 (aged 62) Ruxton, Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Lawyer, politician, businessman |
| Years active | 1904–1939 |
| Known for | Attorney General of Maryland (1919–1923), Republican nominee for Maryland governor (1923) |
Alexander Armstrong III (June 28, 1877 – November 20, 1939) was a prominent Maryland lawyer and political figure. He held the office of Attorney General of Maryland from 1919 until 1923 and was the Republican nominee in the 1923 gubernatorial race.
Early life
Armstrong was born in Hagerstown, Maryland to parents Elizabeth Key (née Scott) and Alexander Armstrong. He graduated as valedictorian from Hagerstown High School before attending Princeton University, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1899 and a Master of Arts in 1900. Subsequently, he earned his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1903 and was admitted to the bar the following year.
Career
Beginning his legal practice in Hagerstown and later in Baltimore, Armstrong was associated with the Baltimore law firm Armstrong, Machen & Allen. His public service included tenure as Hagerstown's city attorney from 1904 to 1906 and as state's attorney for Washington County between 1908 and 1912. He led the Board of Supervisors of Elections for Washington County from 1912 through 1916. After winning the election against Thomas J. Keating, Armstrong served as Attorney General of Maryland from 1919 to 1923. In the 1923 gubernatorial election, he ran as the Republican candidate but was defeated by incumbent Governor Albert Ritchie. Armstrong participated as a delegate at the 1924 Republican National Convention and contributed to the State Board of Law Examiners from 1924 until his passing. Notably, he acted as legal counsel during Maryland’s State Roads Scandal in 1928.
In addition to his legal and political roles, Armstrong held significant business leadership positions. He was president of both the First National Bank of Hagerstown and The Armstrong Company, a Detroit-based producer specializing in putties and plastic cements. His professional affiliations included serving as president of the Maryland State Bar Association (1926–1927) and the Maryland Bankers Association (1930–1931). His corporate governance roles encompassed directorships with Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company (including membership on its executive committee), Potomac Edison Company, New Amsterdam Casualty Company, and Blue Ridge Fire Insurance Company. Beyond business, he supported community institutions such as the Baltimore Library Association and served on the board of visitors for the Severn School.
Personal life
On January 25, 1911, Armstrong wed Mary Rebekah Woods, daughter of Dr. Hiram Woods, in Baltimore; notably, his brother also married one of Dr. Woods’s daughters. The couple had one son named Alexander Jr. Following Mary’s death in 1938, Armstrong leased out his residence in Hagerstown and relocated to Baltimore County. His granddaughter is actress Bess Armstrong.
Armstrong passed away on November 20, 1939, at his home in Ruxton, Baltimore County. He was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery located in Hagerstown.
Awards and legacy
In recognition of his accomplishments, Armstrong was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Maryland in 1923.