Gustavus Scott
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gustavus Scott | |
|---|---|
_Scott,_member_of_the_Continental_Congress,_from_Maryland_(NYPL_b12349185-420090)_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Member of the Maryland House of Delegates from Dorchester County | |
| In office 1780 | |
| Delegate to the Confederation Congress from Maryland | |
| In office 1784 | |
| 4th Commissioner of the Federal City | |
| In office August 23, 1794 – December 25, 1800 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Johnson |
| Succeeded by | William Cranch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1753 "Westwood", Prince William County, Virginia |
| Died | December 25, 1800 (aged 47) Washington, District of Columbia, United States |
| Resting place | Fairfax, Virginia, United States |
| Party | Federalist |
| Spouse | Margaret Hall (m. 1777) |
| Alma mater | King's College, Aberdeen, Scotland Middle Temple, London, |
| Profession | lawyer, farmer |
Gustavus Scott (1753 – December 25, 1800) was an American lawyer who served in several legislative capacities in Maryland during and after the American Revolutionary War, as well as farmed in Fairfax County, Virginia, and served as one of the commissioners superintending the erection of public buildings in the new federal city (Washington, D.C.) from 1794 to 1800.[1]
Scott was born at "Westwood" in Prince William County, Virginia. His father, Rev. James Scott (1715–1782), was the rector of Dettingen parish, and friend of patriots George Washington and George Mason, as well as a planter. While the site of the former house is now within the Quantico Marine Corps base, much of the former plantation is now Prince William Forest Park.[2] Rev. Scott sent Gustavus and his brother to Scotland for their higher education. In 1765 Gustavus studied at King's College in Aberdeen, then entered the Middle Temple in London, England, in 1767, and completed his law studies in 1771. His sister Christian (1745–1815) married Col. Thomas Blackburn, a revolutionary war officer who became planter in Prince William County.
Gustavus Scott married Margaret Hall Caile in Dorchester County in 1777.[3] They had at least three sons. Their Princeton-educated son Gustavus Hall Jr. (born 1786) would move eventually to Crawfordville, Indiana. Their middle son Major William Bushrod Scott (1792–1857) lived in Washington, D.C., and was affiliated with the Washington Navy Yard. Lt. Robert James Scott (1798–1834) became a sutler after graduating from the U.S. Military Academy and military service, and died at Fort Monroe, Virginia. His Fairfax-County born sons (this man's grandsons) remained loyal to the Union during the American Civil War--Gustavus H. Scott (1812–1882) became a Rear Admiral of the United States Navy, Robert Wainright Scott (1827–1866) became Lt.Commander in the Navy, and another became railroad executive and Pennsylvania Congressman William Lawrence Scott (1828–1891).
