William Steuart (Mayor of Baltimore)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel William Steuart (1754–February 12, 1839) was a wealthy planter in colonial Maryland
, and Mayor of Baltimore from 1831 to 1832. He inherited the estate of Dodon
in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, from his father, planter and politician George H. Steuart. He was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army
during the War of 1812
, and saw service during the Battle of Baltimore
, where he commanded the 38th United States Infantry foot regiment.
, the fourth son of the planter and politician George H. Steuart (1700–1784). He was raised at Dodon
, the family plantation on the South River
, near Annapolis, Maryland
.
, who was the illegitimate son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore
, the third Proprietor Governor of Maryland. The Steuart family's interests were closely linked to those of the ruling Calvert family, and in 1770 there was a disagreement between the upper and lower houses in the Maryland Assembly over the size of fees to be collected by the Land Office. After collecting fees that were larger than those designated by the lower house, Steuart was jailed. In response to this Governor Robert Eden prorogued the assembly, freed Steuart, and removed him from the assembly's jurisdiction. The question of proprietarial fees was to cause considerable discontent among Marylanders during the years immediately preceding the American Revolution
.
politician who, as an ally of the ruling Calvert family, had benefited from substantial political patronage. In addition Steuart held estates in both Maryland
and Scotland
and, at the outbreak of war, forced to make a choice between loyalty to the Crown and backing the Revolution, he sailed to Scotland
, saying that he "could not turn rebel in his old age", and pragmatically dividing his property between his sons.
William Steuart was sympathetic to the patriots during the Revolution. According to the memoirs of his nephew Richard Sprigg Steuart
: "Uncle William was mild and conciliatory, rather Republican, but with too much respect for his father to say much". After the end of the war, Steuart inherited the family estate of Dodon
, on the South River
, near Annapolis, Maryland
. He never married.
During the War of 1812 Steuart served in the United States Army
as Lieutenant Colonel of the 38th United States Infantry foot regiment
, and was present at the battle of Baltimore
, during which the American forces prevailed against the British bombardment of Fort McHenry
, with Steuart's regiment "occupying the exposed and shelterless position beyond the outer ditch."
Steuart was Mayor of Baltimore for one term only, serving during the unexpired term of Mayor Jacob Small, who resigned his office on March 31 1831
He also held a number of other civil offices in State and City government, in addition to being a member of the Vigilant Fire Company. He was appointed to the office of City Collector a few days before his death.
William Steuart left a substantial estate in land and slaves which was apportioned among his family members. His will left detailed instructions on which family members would inherit the substantial Steuart estates in Maryland. According to the memoirs of his nephew Richard Sprigg Steuart
"The fifth of my grandfather's children was William, also a bachelor, [who] left a very large landed property and numerous slaves. He was our good old "Uncle Billy".
He is buried at the family estate of Dodon
on the South River
, near Annapolis.
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and Mayor of Baltimore from 1831 to 1832. He inherited the estate of Dodon
Dodon
Dodon, is a farm and former tobacco plantation in Maryland, located near the South River about south west of Annapolis. Purchased in around 1744 by the planter and politician Dr George H. Steuart, it remains the home of Steuart's descendants to this day...
in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, from his father, planter and politician George H. Steuart. He was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, and saw service during the Battle of Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
, where he commanded the 38th United States Infantry foot regiment.
Early life
Steuart was born in 1754 in Anne Arundel County, MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, the fourth son of the planter and politician George H. Steuart (1700–1784). He was raised at Dodon
Dodon
Dodon, is a farm and former tobacco plantation in Maryland, located near the South River about south west of Annapolis. Purchased in around 1744 by the planter and politician Dr George H. Steuart, it remains the home of Steuart's descendants to this day...
, the family plantation on the South River
South River
-In the United States:*Delaware River, referred to as the South River in colonial times*Georgia**South River **South River *Iowa**South River , a tributary of the Des Moines River*Maryland...
, near Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Career
As a young man Steuart served as clerk to the two Judges of the Land Office, his father George H. Steuart and Benedict Swingate CalvertBenedict Swingate Calvert
Benedict Swingate Calvert was a Maryland Loyalist during the American Revolution. He was the son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, the third Proprietor Governor of Maryland , and may have been the grandson of King George I of Great Britain...
, who was the illegitimate son of Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore
Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore
Charles Calvert, 5th Baron Baltimore, 3rd Proprietor and 17th Proprietary Governor of Maryland, FRS was a British nobleman and Proprietary Governor of the Province of Maryland...
, the third Proprietor Governor of Maryland. The Steuart family's interests were closely linked to those of the ruling Calvert family, and in 1770 there was a disagreement between the upper and lower houses in the Maryland Assembly over the size of fees to be collected by the Land Office. After collecting fees that were larger than those designated by the lower house, Steuart was jailed. In response to this Governor Robert Eden prorogued the assembly, freed Steuart, and removed him from the assembly's jurisdiction. The question of proprietarial fees was to cause considerable discontent among Marylanders during the years immediately preceding the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
Revolutionary War
Steuart's family was divided by the Revolution. His father George H. Steuart was a LoyalistLoyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
politician who, as an ally of the ruling Calvert family, had benefited from substantial political patronage. In addition Steuart held estates in both Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and, at the outbreak of war, forced to make a choice between loyalty to the Crown and backing the Revolution, he sailed to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, saying that he "could not turn rebel in his old age", and pragmatically dividing his property between his sons.
William Steuart was sympathetic to the patriots during the Revolution. According to the memoirs of his nephew Richard Sprigg Steuart
Richard Sprigg Steuart
Dr. Richard Sprigg Steuart was a Maryland physician and an early pioneer of the treatment of mental illness. He was instrumental in the expansion and modernisation of The Maryland Hospital for the Insane, now known as the Spring Grove Hospital Center, which became his life's work...
: "Uncle William was mild and conciliatory, rather Republican, but with too much respect for his father to say much". After the end of the war, Steuart inherited the family estate of Dodon
Dodon
Dodon, is a farm and former tobacco plantation in Maryland, located near the South River about south west of Annapolis. Purchased in around 1744 by the planter and politician Dr George H. Steuart, it remains the home of Steuart's descendants to this day...
, on the South River
South River
-In the United States:*Delaware River, referred to as the South River in colonial times*Georgia**South River **South River *Iowa**South River , a tributary of the Des Moines River*Maryland...
, near Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He never married.
War of 1812
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as Lieutenant Colonel of the 38th United States Infantry foot regiment
38th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 38th Infantry Regiment is a United States Army infantry regiment.-First 38th Infantry Regiment:The 38th Infantry was first established on July 28, 1866, as part of the Regular Army, one of six segregated, all-black regiments created following the Civil War...
, and was present at the battle of Baltimore
Battle of Baltimore
The Battle of Baltimore was a combined sea/land battle fought between British and American forces in the War of 1812. It was one of the turning points of the war as American forces repulsed sea and land invasions of the busy port city of Baltimore, Maryland, and killed the commander of the invading...
, during which the American forces prevailed against the British bombardment of Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
, with Steuart's regiment "occupying the exposed and shelterless position beyond the outer ditch."
Politics
After the war of 1812, Steuart was elected as a delegate to the Maryland Assembly, and later became Mayor of Baltimore from 1831 to 1832.Steuart was Mayor of Baltimore for one term only, serving during the unexpired term of Mayor Jacob Small, who resigned his office on March 31 1831
He also held a number of other civil offices in State and City government, in addition to being a member of the Vigilant Fire Company. He was appointed to the office of City Collector a few days before his death.
Will and Legacy
Richard Sprigg Steuart
Dr. Richard Sprigg Steuart was a Maryland physician and an early pioneer of the treatment of mental illness. He was instrumental in the expansion and modernisation of The Maryland Hospital for the Insane, now known as the Spring Grove Hospital Center, which became his life's work...
"The fifth of my grandfather's children was William, also a bachelor, [who] left a very large landed property and numerous slaves. He was our good old "Uncle Billy".
He is buried at the family estate of Dodon
Dodon
Dodon, is a farm and former tobacco plantation in Maryland, located near the South River about south west of Annapolis. Purchased in around 1744 by the planter and politician Dr George H. Steuart, it remains the home of Steuart's descendants to this day...
on the South River
South River
-In the United States:*Delaware River, referred to as the South River in colonial times*Georgia**South River **South River *Iowa**South River , a tributary of the Des Moines River*Maryland...
, near Annapolis.
See also
- Colonial families of MarylandColonial families of MarylandThe Colonial families of Maryland were the leading families in the Province of Maryland. Several also had interests in the Colony of Virginia, and the two are sometimes referred to as the Chesapeake Colonies. Many of the early settlers came from the West Midlands in England, although the Maryland...
- List of mayors of Baltimore, Maryland
- Province of MarylandProvince of MarylandThe Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S...
- Steuart familySteuart familyThe Steuart family of Maryland was a prominent political family in the early History of Maryland. Of Scottish descent, the Steuarts have their origins in Perthshire, Scotland...
External links
- Steuart in Niles Weekly Register Volume 52, 1837 Retrieved August 2010
- Steuart at politicalgraveyard.com Retrieved August 2010
- William Steuart at www.msa.md.gov Retrieved March 2011