Robert Brent was the first mayor of Washington, District of Columbia, the federal capital of the United States of America.
Background
Brent was born into a prominent Catholic family, for which the Brent Society is named. His mother was Ann Carroll, whose brother John Carroll was the first Catholic Bishop appointed for the United States. In 1789 Brent married Mary Young — the daughter of Notley Young, a plantation owner in Prince George"s County, Maryland.
He soon took over his father"s businesses, selling sandstone to the United States. government for the White House, United States. Capitol, and other early construction projects in the District of Columbia and thereby becoming one of the capital"s most prominent merchants.
Career
The family lived in Woodstock, which was then in Stafford County, Virginia. Brent"s father was a contractor and quarry owner. Mayor of Washington, District of Columbia In 1802 Congress officially incorporated the city, including in its incorporation a directive for a mayor to be appointed annually by the President of the United States.
On June 3, 1802 Thomas Jefferson wrote to Brent informing Brent of his intention to appoint Brent as mayor of the city.
Brent replied accepting the appointment that same day: "Altho I feel great diffidence in the talents I possess for executing that duty, in a manner which may afford general satisfaction, yet feeling it a duty to contribute my feeble aid for the public service, I will venture upon its duties."
Brent was reappointed to the position seven times by Jefferson and three times by James Madison, finally relinquishing the position in June 1812. During his tenure, he essentially created the city government from the ground up — establishing markets, public schools, a police department, a fire department, and a system for taxation.
In addition, since city planner Pierre L"Enfant had been dismissed before completion of his design, Brent was responsible for laying out many of the streets in the new city. Foreign all his ten years of busy service, Brent drew no salary for his service as mayor.
Other careers
During his lifetime, Brent also served as Paymaster-General of the United States Army, Judge of the Orphan"s Court for Washington County, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Public Schools.
He was the first president of the Patriotic Bank and of the Columbia Manufacturing Company
Brentwood Mansion
Brent"s home was located on the southeast corner of the present 12th Street and Maryland Avenue Southwest in Washington, District of Columbia, but he owned land throughout the region, including parts of Montgomery County, Maryland, and Washington County. His landholdings were largely inherited through his father"s family, his mother"s family (the Carrolls of Maryland), and his father-in-law. Brentwood was designed by one of the Capitol"s architects, Benjamin H. Latrobe.
The Prince George"s County, Maryland, towns of Brentwood and North Brentwood and the District of Columbia neighborhood of Brentwood (which formed most of the original estate) take their names from his home.
Brent died in Washington, District of Columbia, on 7 September 1819. Legacy
Robert Brent Elementary School in Washington, District of Columbia is named in his honor.
