William Steuart (Mayor of Baltimore) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Steuart
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Lieutenant colonel William Steuart, Mayor of Baltimore from 1831-32.
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| Mayor of Baltimore | |
| In office 1831–1832 |
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| Preceded by | Jacob Small |
| Succeeded by | Jesse Hunt |
| Lieutenant colonel, United States Army | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1780 |
| Died | February 12, 1839 Baltimore, Maryland. |
| Occupation | Politician, Soldier |
William Steuart (born around 1780, died February 12, 1839) was an important person in early American history. He was a skilled stonemason and even became the Mayor of Baltimore from 1831 to 1832. He also served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army during the War of 1812, leading soldiers in the famous Battle of Baltimore.
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Early Life and Family
William Steuart was born in 1780 in Baltimore, Maryland. His father, Robert Steuart, and his uncle, Hugh, taught him the trade of a stonemason. This meant he learned how to cut and shape stone for buildings.
William Steuart married Elizabeth Hagerty, who was from Alexandria, Virginia. Together, they had a large family with five sons and two daughters.
Serving in the War of 1812
During the War of 1812, William Steuart was a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army. He was in charge of the 38th United States Infantry foot regiment, which had about 600 soldiers.
The Battle of Baltimore
Steuart and his regiment played a key role in the Battle of Baltimore. This was a major battle where American forces successfully defended Fort McHenry against a British attack. Steuart's soldiers were in a very exposed position, meaning they had little cover from the British bombardment. Despite this, the American forces won the battle, which inspired the writing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Life in Politics and Business
After the War of 1812, William Steuart continued to serve his community.
Becoming Mayor of Baltimore
He was elected as a delegate to the Maryland Assembly, which is like being a representative in the state government. Later, he became the Mayor of Baltimore in 1831. He served for one term, taking over after the previous mayor, Jacob Small, resigned.
Building Baltimore
Beyond politics, Steuart was also a successful building contractor. He was involved in many important construction projects in Baltimore. For example, he prepared the stonework for the famous Washington Monument (Baltimore). He also worked on the Court House built in 1805 and other large buildings of that time.
Steuart held several other important jobs in the city and state government. He was also a member of the Vigilant Fire Company, which helped put out fires. Just a few days before he passed away, he was appointed as the City Collector.
