Robert Brent

Robert Brent (born 1764 in Stafford County , Colony of Virginia , †  September 14, 1819 in Washington, DC ) was an American politician . Between 1802 and 1812 he was the first mayor of Washington DC

Career

Robert Brent was the son of a quarry owner in Virginia. Later he also worked in this branch. Since 1789 he was married to Notley Young, the daughter of a plantation owner. The family settled in the area that would later become the federal capital, Washington. Brent became one of the first citizens of this city after the city was founded. From his quarries he supplied the construction sites of the first government buildings with sandstone materials. This made him a respected and wealthy businessman.

Brent was a friend of US President Thomas Jefferson , also known as Virginia. He became a member of the Democratic Republican Party founded by him . In June 1802 he was named first mayor of the new federal capital by Jefferson. Until 1812 it was customary for the mayor of Washington to be appointed annually by the respective president. Brent was confirmed in office in the following years by Jefferson or his successor James Madison . He was mayor of the federal capital for ten years from 1802 to 1812. It should be mentioned that he was not responsible for the entire District of Columbia. The then still independent city of Georgetown had its own administration until 1871, which was headed by its own mayor. As mayor, Brent overlooked the urban development of the city in the early days and provided the necessary infrastructure. Between 1812 and 1820 the mayor of Washington was elected by the city council. Brent ran in 1812 and received the same number of votes as his opponent Daniel Rapine . He then became the new mayor by drawing lots.

Between 1801 and 1817 Brent was also Justice of the Peace in Washington and from 1806 to 1814 he was a judge at the Guardianship Court for Orphans. He also served from 1808 to 1819 as the head of the Paymaster General of the United States Army . He was also president of the Patriotic Bank and Columbia Manufacturing Co. Robert Brent died of a stroke on September 14, 1819.

Web links

• Robert Brent in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• The Political Graveyard
• biography

predecessor	Office	successor
Office newly created	Mayor of Washington 1802–1812	Daniel Rapine