Henry Foxall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Henry Foxall
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| Personal details | |
| Born | May 24, 1758 South Wales |
| Died | December 11, 1823 (aged 65) England |
| Spouses |
Ann Harward
(m. 1780; died 1798)Margaret English Smith
(died 1816)Catherine Holland
(m. 1816) |
| Children | 5 |
| Relatives | Henrietta McKenney (granddaughter) |
| Known for | Mayor of Georgetown, Columbia Foundry, founding the Foundry United Methodist Church |
Henry Foxall (born May 24, 1758 – died December 11, 1823) was an important person from England who became an American politician, factory owner, and preacher. He is known as the first U.S. defense contractor. This means he supplied the U.S. Navy with cannons and cannonballs. He did this during several wars, like the Quasi War, the First Barbary War, and the War of 1812. His factories were in cities like Philadelphia, Georgetown, and Richmond, Virginia. Henry Foxall also served as the Mayor of Georgetown. He helped start the Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Henry Foxall was born on May 24, 1758. His birthplace was Monmouth Forge in South Wales. His parents were Mary (Hays) and Thomas Foxall. After Henry was born, his family moved back to the British West Midlands.
The Foxall family became Methodists because they were friends with the Asbury family. Henry Foxall remained good friends with Francis Asbury throughout his life. Henry's father was an ironworker. He worked as a foreman at the Old Forge in West Bromwich for some time.
Working with Iron
Henry Foxall learned how to work with iron in England and Ireland. He trained at Funtley Forge, near HMNB Portsmouth. He worked for Henry Cort for seven years. During this time, he became very skilled at using coke to heat iron furnaces. He also learned special techniques for shaping iron.
Later, in the late 1780s, Foxall moved to Ireland. He worked at the Arigna Iron Works. By November 1791, Foxall became a Methodist. Around June 1795, his family had to leave Ireland. They sailed to New York City on a ship called the Joseph.
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By October 1795, Henry Foxall and his family settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In Philadelphia, he started a business called Eagle Iron Works. He partnered with Robert Morris. Their partnership ended in 1800. While in Philadelphia, he provided cannons and cannonballs to the U.S. Navy. This happened during the First Barbary War and the Quasi War. Because of this, he is seen as the first U.S. defense contractor.
In 1800, Foxall moved to Georgetown. He built the Columbia Foundry there in 1801. He also opened another factory in Richmond, Virginia in 1809. Both factories made cannons for the U.S. government. It is thought that his Columbia Foundry made about 300 heavy guns and 30,000 cannonballs each year.
He supplied weapons during the War of 1812. The British forces planned to attack his factory. However, the attack never happened. This was due to bad weather and rumors that more American soldiers were coming. Foxall's business also supplied cast iron to Thomas Jefferson and the U.S. Capitol building. He retired in 1815 and sold his factories.
Other Important Roles
Henry Foxall did more than just run iron factories. He served as the Mayor of Georgetown. He was also a director at a bank in Georgetown. He was a trustee for a company that imported and exported goods. He even owned a bakery!
Foxall was very active in the Methodist church. He worked as a lay preacher, which means he preached without being officially ordained. But in 1814, he became an official elder in the church. In 1814, Foxall gave money to build the Foundry Chapel. This church later became the Foundry United Methodist Church. It was the first Methodist church built in Washington, D.C., west of the Capitol. The church was officially opened on September 10, 1815. It was named after John Wesley's Foundry Chapel in London.
Henry Foxall's Family Life
Henry Foxall was married three times. His first wife was Ann Harward. They married in 1780 while he was in Ireland. They had five children together. Sadly, three of their children died young. Their other children were John (1786–1809) and Mary Ann (1791–1856). Ann, his first wife, passed away in 1798.
He then married Margaret English Smith, who passed away in 1816. Later, in November 1816, he married his third wife, Catherine Holland.
After moving to Georgetown in 1803, Foxall became a U.S. citizen. He owned a house on 34th Street, which used to belong to General James Lingan. He also had a country house on Spring Hill in Georgetown. He built a house for his daughter, Mary McKenney. This house, at 3123 Dumbarton Avenue, is now called the Foxall-McKenney House.
Later Years and Passing
After he retired in 1815, Henry Foxall visited England two times. He went once in 1815 and again in 1823. He passed away on December 11, 1823, while he was visiting England.
Legacy
The Foxhall Village neighborhood in Washington, D.C., is named after Henry Foxall.
