Maryland lawyer and politician.

Practiced law in Annapolis. Elected to Maryland legislature (1768). Member of Maryland committee of correspondence and Continental Congress (1774-79); signed Declaration of Independence.

Governor of Maryland (1782-85). Delegate to Maryland convention to ratify the United States Constitution (1788). Judge of the United States District Court of Maryland (1789-99).

Son of John and Elizabeth (Smith) Paca. Educated at the College of Philadelphia (B.A. 1759; M.A. 1762) and the Inns of Court. Married Mary Chew in 1763. Married Anne Harrison in 1777. Several children, most of whom died young.