Montgomery County schools all took different routes in selecting their names. Some, like Damascus High School, are simply named after the town they are located in, while others are named after someone in history. CHS is named for Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, a well-known British politician, and Einstein High School is named for Albert Einstein, one of the world’s greatest thinkers. But what about those other Montgomery County schools named after people whom most students have never heard of?

Magruder High School

Magruder High School is named after Colonel Zadok Magruder, a revolutionary war hero and farmer. According to Magruder HS’ official website, Magruder was born in 1729, the Scottish American grew up in Frederick County. After starting a family, he joined the General Committee to Annapolis and the Maryland Committee of Correspondence, in which he played an important role in the American Revolution. Later he reached the rank of colonel in the Maryland Militia during the revolutionary war. Most importantly he and his brother Nathan were appointed as commissioners to establish the government of the newly formed Montgomery County. Magruder High School now stands just miles from Magruder’s home.

Blake High School

Blake High School was named after musician James Hubert Blake. According to the Library of Congress website, Blake was born in Baltimore on Feb. 7, 1883. He became one of the best ragtime pianists in the country and started his professional career at a Baltimore nightclub at the young age of 15. One of his greatest accomplishments was his Broadway play Shuffle Along, which he co-produced with Indiana native Noble Sissle. Blake brought together elements of ragtime and swing style piano that led to new styles of jazz piano.

Richard Montgomery High School

Richard Montgomery High School was named after American General, Richard Montgomery. According to Richard Montgomery HS’ official website, Montgomery was born Dec. 2, 1738 in Ireland where he stayed until college. After college he joined the British Army and became a captain six years later. In 1772 he left the army and moved to New York. Three years later he became a delegate in the first provincial congress of New York, and he became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army. He later became a part of the “Invasion of Canada,” where he died trying to capture the city of Quebec.

Blair High School

Montgomery Blair High School was named after the Maryland lawyer Montgomery Blair. According to the Spartacus Educational website, Blair started his career in the army where he took part in Florida’s Seminole War. After he left the army, he studied law in St. Louis and later performed his trade in Washington, D.C. as the first U.S. solicitor in the Court of Claims. During his time there, he represented Dread Scott in “Dread Scott vs. Sandford,” one of the most famous American court cases. He later became Postmaster General under President Abraham Lincoln where his views on slavery forced his resignation before the 1864 elections.