William Herbert (1743 – February 24, 1818) was an Irish American politician, banker, and merchant in Colonial Virginia who served two non-consecutive terms as the mayor of Alexandria, Virginia and mayor of Alexandria, D.C.[1][2][3]
James Hendricks | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Alexandria, Viriginia | |
| In office 1782–1783 | |
| Preceded by | James Hendricks |
| Succeeded by | Richard Conway |
| Mayor of Alexandria, D.C. | |
| In office 1809–1812 | |
| Preceded by | Cuthbert Powell |
| Succeeded by | Charles Simms |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1743 County Kerry, Ireland |
| Died | February 24, 1818 Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. |
| Resting place | Christ Church |
| Spouse | Sarah Fairfax Carlyle |
| Relations | John Carlyle (father-in-law) |
| Children | 7, including John Carlyle Herbert |
| Occupation | Politician, banker, merchant |
Early life and family
editHerbert was born in 1743 in County Kerry, Ireland.[4] He emigrated to Virginia in 1773.[5]
Herbert married Sarah Fairfax Carlyle, daughter of Col. John Carlyle and Sarah Fairfax Carlyle (daughter of William Fairfax).[6] They had seven children:[7][5][8]
- Congressman John Carlyle Herbert (1775–1846) (married Mary Snowden)
- William Herbert Jr. (b. 1778) (married Henrietta Maria Dulany)
- Margaret Herbert Fairfax (1785–1858) (married her first cousin, Thomas Fairfax, 9th Lord Fairfax of Cameron)
- Sarah Herbert (1792–1825) (married Rev. Oliver Norris, Rector of Christ Church, Alexandria)
- Anne Herbert (died in childhood)
- Eliza Herbert (died in childhood)
- Lucinda Herbert (died in childhood)
Career
editUpon moving to Alexandria, Herbert established himself as a merchant and quickly entered Virginia society.[9][10][2] Herbert was a personal friend of George Washington and frequent visitor to Mount Vernon.[11][12][13]
In 1780, Herbert became a vestryman of Christ Church. In 1783, he was elected as Secretary of Masonic Lodge No. 39 in Alexandria. Herbert was one of the founding trustees of the Alexandria Bank in 1792.[14] In 1798, Herbert became the second president of the Alexandria Bank.[15][16] During the building of the bank, the funds of the bank were kept in the Carlyle House which was his primary residence at the time.[14] In 1799, he was an honorary pallbearer for George Washington's funeral.[4]
Mayor
editHerbert was elected as the third mayor of Alexandria, serving from 1782 to 1783. From 1809 to 1812, Herbert again served as mayor of Alexandria.[4] During the War of 1812, Herbert was appointed to the Alexandria Committee of Vigilance, which was responsible for monitoring the approach of British troops.[14]
Death
editHerbert died in 1818.[2] He is interred at the Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery.[17]
References
edit- ^ "Founders Online: To George Washington from William Herbert, 3 May 1793". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Founders Online: Cash Accounts, September 1773". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Founders Online: [Diary entry: 6 January 1773]". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "William Herbert / Dr. John Meade Travers Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Under the Editorial Supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler. Lewis historical publishing Company.
- ^ Browning, Charles Henry (1969). Americans of Royal Descent: Collection of Genealogies Showing the Lineal Descent from Kings of Some American Families ... Genealogical Publishing Com. ISBN 978-0-8063-0054-2.
- ^ "Bioguide Search". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine. Institute of Early American History and Culture. 1910.
- ^ “[May 1774],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0004-0009 . [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, pp. 248–252.]
- ^ “[January 1774],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0004-0001 . [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, pp. 225–228.]
- ^ “[Diary entry: 6 January 1774],” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/01-03-02-0004-0001-0006 . [Original source: The Diaries of George Washington, vol. 3, 1 January 1771–5 November 1781, ed. Donald Jackson. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1978, p. 225.]
- ^ "Founders Online: To George Washington from William Milnor, 19 October 1773". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Founders Online: [Diary entry: 30 March 1773]". founders.archives.gov. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Alexandria War of 1812 Commemoration" (PDF). media.alexandriava.gov.
- ^ "William Herbert, Alexandria, Virginia, to "Madam" (Mrs. Mary Prescott), 1801 February 13 | Special Collections Research Center". scrcguides.libraries.wm.edu. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Old Town History: Bank of Alexandria". www.connectionnewspapers.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Christ Church Alexandria | Old Town, Alexandria VA". www.historicchristchurch.org. Retrieved October 3, 2023.