William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, born in Harford co., Md., Oct. 31, 1740, died in 1799. He graduated at the college of Philadelphia in 1759, was admitted to the bar in 1704, settled in Annapolis, and in 1771 was chosen to the provincial legislature. He was a conspicuous opponent of the government, was appointed by the legislature to. attend the first congress in 1774, and was elected to congress in 1775, 1776, and 1777. On the adoption of the constitution of his native state he was made state senator for two years. He was chief judge of the superior court of Maryland from 1778 to 1780, when he became chief judge of the court of appeals in prize and admiralty cases. In 1782 he was elected governor of Maryland. In 1786 he sat in congress, and was reelected governor. He served in the state convention that ratified the federal constitution, and in 1789 was appointed judge of the district court of the United States for Maryland, which post he held till his death.