Background
Seaton, William Winston was born on January 11, 1785 in Chelsea, King William County, Virginia, United States. Son of Augustine and Mary (Winston) Seaton.
historian journalist mayor politician
Seaton, William Winston was born on January 11, 1785 in Chelsea, King William County, Virginia, United States. Son of Augustine and Mary (Winston) Seaton.
3 children, including Josephine.
From 1812 until 1820 the two were the only reporters of congressional proceedings. Their Annals of Congress, Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States from 3 March 1798, till 27 May 1824 (42 volumes, 1834–1856), and their Register of Debates in Congress from 1824 till 1837 (29 volumes, 1827-1837) are sources of the utmost importance on the history of the times. Seaton served on the Washington Board of Aldermen from 1819 to 1831, and was elected Mayor of Washington in 1840.
Federal officials were so distraught at Seaton"s election that the Senate introduced legislation that would abolish the city"s charter.
Thanks to petitions from District citizens and sympathetic Senators, the bill was tabled after three readings. During his 10 years as mayor, Seaton was instrumental in the development of the city"s public education system and in numerous civic improvements, including telegraph and gas lines as well as the construction of the first waterworks.
Seaton died in 1866 of skin cancer and was interred at Holmead"s Burying Ground in Washington, District of Columbia He was later disinterred, and moved to an unmarked grave at Congressional Cemetery.
However, Seaton was a Whig — the political party formed in opposition to the policies of the Democrats who then controlled both the Congress and the presidency.
Mason.
Married Sarah Weston Gales, March 30, 1809.
