Forrest-Marbury House
Encyclopedia
The Forrest-Marbury House, located at 3350 M Street, Northwest, in Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
, and not far from the Francis Scott Key Bridge
over the Potomac River
was the site of the March 29, 1791 meeting between George Washington
and local land-owners. The meeting was to discuss the federal government's purchase offer for the land needed to build the new capital city. The meeting was a success, and the land acquisition deal was sealed shortly thereafter.
The house itself dates back to 1788, and is one of the most significant historic sites in the District of Columbia. It was originally home to Uriah Forrest
, the mayor of the Town of George at the time.
The next owner was real estate investor William Marbury
who occupied it in 1800 while buying up large tracts in the Anacostia
area. His battle with President James Madison
over promised federal appointments in 1803, resulted in the Marbury v. Madison
decision (against Marbury) which established the crucial precedent, in a decision written for the U.S. Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Marshall
, that the United States Congress
cannot pass legislation which is contrary to the Constitution of the United States -- and establishing what is sometimes called simply "judicial review
."
The house remained in Marbury's family throughout most of the nineteenth century. It was later used as both a residence and a commercial property, including the Crazy Horse rock and roll nightclub in the 1980s before being restored and remodeled in the early 1990s. In 1992 it was offered for lease as part of "Forrest Marbury Court". Since 2008 it has served as the offices of Embassy of Ukraine.
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, and not far from the Francis Scott Key Bridge
Francis Scott Key Bridge
Francis Scott Key Bridge, or Key Bridge can refer to:*Francis Scott Key Bridge , a bridge crossing the outer harbor of Baltimore, Maryland...
over the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
was the site of the March 29, 1791 meeting between George Washington
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...
and local land-owners. The meeting was to discuss the federal government's purchase offer for the land needed to build the new capital city. The meeting was a success, and the land acquisition deal was sealed shortly thereafter.
The house itself dates back to 1788, and is one of the most significant historic sites in the District of Columbia. It was originally home to Uriah Forrest
Uriah Forrest
Uriah Forrest was an American statesman and military leader from Maryland. Forrest was born in St. Mary's County in southern Maryland. During the American Revolutionary War, Forrest was injured and lost a leg in the Battle of Germantown...
, the mayor of the Town of George at the time.
The next owner was real estate investor William Marbury
William Marbury
William Marbury was one of the famous "Midnight Judges". Due to President John Adams's work in the night before he was to leave office, Marbury was to be appointed a Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia. He was appointed there to give the Federalists a stronghold in the judicial...
who occupied it in 1800 while buying up large tracts in the Anacostia
Anacostia
Anacostia is a historic neighborhood in Washington, D.C. Its historic downtown is located at the intersection of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue It is the most famous neighborhood in the Southeast quadrant of Washington, located east of the Anacostia River, after which the...
area. His battle with President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
over promised federal appointments in 1803, resulted in the Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison
Marbury v. Madison, is a landmark case in United States law and in the history of law worldwide. It formed the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States under Article III of the Constitution. It was also the first time in Western history a court invalidated a law by declaring...
decision (against Marbury) which established the crucial precedent, in a decision written for the U.S. Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
, that the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
cannot pass legislation which is contrary to the Constitution of the United States -- and establishing what is sometimes called simply "judicial review
Judicial review
Judicial review is the doctrine under which legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the judiciary. Specific courts with judicial review power must annul the acts of the state when it finds them incompatible with a higher authority...
."
The house remained in Marbury's family throughout most of the nineteenth century. It was later used as both a residence and a commercial property, including the Crazy Horse rock and roll nightclub in the 1980s before being restored and remodeled in the early 1990s. In 1992 it was offered for lease as part of "Forrest Marbury Court". Since 2008 it has served as the offices of Embassy of Ukraine.
Sources
- Bergheim, Laura, The Washington Historical Atlas, Woodbine House, Rockville, Maryland, 1992, ISBN 0-933149-42-5, page 161.
- VERIZON, District of Columbia Yellow Pages, June 2007-2008, Idearc Media, page 161.