David Stuart (Virginia)
Encyclopedia
David Stuart was an associate and correspondent of George Washington
. When Washington became President of the United States
, he appointed Stuart to be one of the three commissioners that were in charge of siting and designing the nation's new capital city.
in Edinburgh
. Emigrating to America, he established a practice in in Alexandria
, Virginia
. He became a relative of George Washington's in 1783 when he married Eleanor Calvert Custis
, the widow of Washington's stepson John Parke Custis
and a descendent of Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore
, the recipient of the charter for the Maryland colony. A number of letters from Washington to Stuart exist, concerning family matters and Virginia politics.
Eleanor and David had sixteen children of their own, including:
In addition, Stuart helped raise John Park Custis' and Eleanor's two eldest children, Elizabeth Parke Custis Law
and Martha Parke Custis Peter
. The Stuarts and their family resided at three estates in Fairfax County
, Virginia
: Abingdon
, Hope Park
and Ossian Hall.
and also to the Virginia convention of 1788 that ratified the U. S. Constitution. He voted for ratification
He was chosen as an elector for the 1789 election from Prince William District. That District consisted of the Counties of Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William, which cover the area west of Washington DC.
All of the 10 electors from Virginia who voted cast one of their two votes for George Washington. 5 of them cast their other vote for John Adams
. 3 cast theirs for George Clinton
. 1 cast his for John Hancock
. 1 cast his for John Jay
.
In 1790 he was appointed by George Washington as a commissioner of the Federal City to oversee the siting and planning of a new capital. He served on the commission until at least 1793. In 1791, Dr. Stuart and the other commissioners named the capital the "City of Washington" in "The Territory of Columbia" (see: History of Washington, D.C.
).
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
. When Washington became President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, he appointed Stuart to be one of the three commissioners that were in charge of siting and designing the nation's new capital city.
Private life
Born in Scotland, Stuart studied medicine and languages at the University of St AndrewsUniversity of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Emigrating to America, he established a practice in in Alexandria
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He became a relative of George Washington's in 1783 when he married Eleanor Calvert Custis
Eleanor Calvert
Eleanor Calvert Custis Stuart was a prominent member of the Calvert family of Maryland. Upon her marriage to John Parke Custis, she became the daughter-in-law of Martha Dandridge Custis Washington and the stepdaughter-in-law of George Washington...
, the widow of Washington's stepson John Parke Custis
John Parke Custis
John Parke Custis was a Virginia planter, the son of Martha Washington and stepson of George Washington.-Childhood:...
and a descendent of Cecilius Calvert, Lord Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore
Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore, 1st Proprietor and 1st Proprietary Governor of Maryland, 9th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland , was an English peer who was the first proprietor of the Province of Maryland. He received the proprietorship after the death of his father, George Calvert, the...
, the recipient of the charter for the Maryland colony. A number of letters from Washington to Stuart exist, concerning family matters and Virginia politics.
Eleanor and David had sixteen children of their own, including:
- Ann Calvert Stuart Robinson (born 1784), married William Robinson
- Sarah Stuart Waite (born 1786), married Obed Waite
- Ariana Calvert Stuart
- William Skolto Stuart
- Eleanor Custis Stuart (born 1792)
- Charles Calvert Stuart (1794–1846), married Cornelia Lee
- Rosalie Eugenia Stuart Webster (1796–1886), married William Greenleaf Webster
In addition, Stuart helped raise John Park Custis' and Eleanor's two eldest children, Elizabeth Parke Custis Law
Elizabeth Parke Custis Law
Elizabeth Parke Custis Law was a granddaughter of Martha Dandridge Washington and the step-granddaughter of George Washington. She was a social leader of the District of Columbia and a preserver of the Washington family heritage.-Early life:Elizabeth Parke Custis was born on 21 August 1776...
and Martha Parke Custis Peter
Martha Parke Custis Peter
Martha Parke Custis Peter was a granddaughter of Martha Dandridge Washington and the step-granddaughter of George Washington.-Early life:Martha Parke Custis was born on 31 December 1777 in the Blue Room at Mount Vernon...
. The Stuarts and their family resided at three estates in Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
: Abingdon
Abingdon (plantation)
Abingdon was an 18th- and 19th-century plantation that the prominent Alexander, Custis, Stuart, and Hunter families owned. The plantation's site is now located in Arlington County in the U.S...
, Hope Park
Hope Park
Hope Park was an 18th and 19th-century plantation in Fairfax County in the U.S. state of Virginia. Hope Park was the residence of Dr. David Stuart , an old friend and associate correspondent of George Washington, and second husband of Washington's former stepdaughter-in-law, Eleanor Calvert Custis...
and Ossian Hall.
Political career
Stuart served as a representative to the Virginia House of DelegatesVirginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
and also to the Virginia convention of 1788 that ratified the U. S. Constitution. He voted for ratification
He was chosen as an elector for the 1789 election from Prince William District. That District consisted of the Counties of Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William, which cover the area west of Washington DC.
All of the 10 electors from Virginia who voted cast one of their two votes for George Washington. 5 of them cast their other vote for John Adams
John Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
. 3 cast theirs for George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
. 1 cast his for John Hancock
John Hancock
John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
. 1 cast his for John Jay
John Jay
John Jay was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, a Founding Father of the United States, and the first Chief Justice of the United States ....
.
In 1790 he was appointed by George Washington as a commissioner of the Federal City to oversee the siting and planning of a new capital. He served on the commission until at least 1793. In 1791, Dr. Stuart and the other commissioners named the capital the "City of Washington" in "The Territory of Columbia" (see: History of Washington, D.C.
History of Washington, D.C.
The history of Washington, D.C. is tied to its role as the capital of the United States. Originally inhabited by an Algonquian-speaking people known as the Nacotchtank, the site of the District of Columbia along the Potomac River was originally selected by President George Washington. The city came...
).