Honoring John Hanson Briscoe

Friday, April 10th, 2026, would have been John Hanson Briscoe’s 92nd birthday. We invite you to join us in celebrating the legacy of a man that left a mark not only on Historic Sotterley, but on all of Southern Maryland.

A St. Mary’s County native, John Hanson Briscoe was named after his ancestor, John Hanson, the President of the United States in Congress Assembled from 1781-1782. He was the great-grandson of Dr. Walter Hanson Stone Briscoe and Emeline Dallam Briscoe, the owners of Sotterley between 1826 and 1885. Although he mentioned in an interview with his son-in-law, Sam Baldwin, that he didn’t understand the importance of these connections as a young man, he grew to embrace his legacy and pass it on to his own children.

John attended St. Mary’s Academy, Mount St. Mary’s College, and both the University of Maryland and the University of Baltimore Schools of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1960, and in 1962 he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates and served on several committees, including the Natural Resources Committee, Environmental Matters Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee. He was elected as Speaker of the General Assembly from 1973 through 1979.

After returning to St. Mary’s County, he practiced law privately with partners James A. Kenney, III, and Marvin S. Kaminetz until 1986, when he was appointed Circuit Court Judge. It was in this time as Circuit Court Judge that John became deeply involved with Historic Sotterley and would eventually become the President of the Board of Trustees at a turning point in Sotterley’s history.

In his time with Sotterley, John Hanson Briscoe became one of its most vocal advocates, campaigning for its establishment as a National Historic Landmark, fighting for its preservation as a vital public museum, and taking to national news to fundraise to save important historic structures like the Manor House. He formed a strong connection with fellow trustee Agnes Kane Callum, a descendant of the enslaved. Together, they became a powerful symbol of preserving history with honesty and inclusivity, honoring both sides of the story. Their friendship and cooperation took them all the way to platforms like the Today Show, showing the world that we can connect through our shared humanity.

John’s legacy doesn’t end there. Though he passed in 2014, at the age of 79, his children have continued where he left off. His daughter, Janice Briscoe, served as President of the Board of Trustees from 2010 until 2025, when she passed the position to Gwen Bankins, a descendant of Agnes Kane Callum. In 2026, John’s son, John Hanson Briscoe Jr., joined the Board of Trustees, alongside senior’s son in law, Sam Baldwin. In addition to Historic Sotterley, John and his family have been long time advocated for other historic sites in the region, including Point Lookout, St. Mary’s City, Greenwell, and St. Clements Island. Together, the Briscoes have continued to advocate and care for Sotterley and sites like ours, spearheading several preservation and expansion projects to facilitate tours and events on site and keep it accessible for the public. 

John’s dedication to Historic Sotterley left a lasting impact that has inspired not only his descendants, but so many others to take an active role in preserving our site and keeping it available to the public. We are honored to celebrate his legacy and contributions.