Lingan, James, 1751-1812

Gen. James Lingan served in the American Revolution as a Lieutenant in the Rawlins Regiment, but soon became a prison of war upont the prison brig, HMS Jersey. A distant cousin asked him to switch allegiance to England and he would be freed. He replied, "I'll rot first." He later became a Brigadier General in the Maryland Militia. He lived at Prospect House in Georgetown. He fiercely believed in freedom of speech, leading to his defence of Alexander C. Hanson while he was editor of the Federal Republican during the Baltimore Riots of 1812. On July 17, 1812, he came to Baltimore in hopes of calming the mob. He was arrested by militia and placed in the Baltimore City Jail. A mob stormed the prison, severely beating him, Henry Lee, and Hanson. He died from his injuries and his funeral at St. John's Church in Georgetown was attended by thousands of mourners.