Joseph Nourse
Encyclopedia
Joseph Nourse was the first United States Register of the Treasury
whose career spanned forty years and six presidential administrations. He played a key role in administering the finances of the new Republic.
Nourse first served during the American Revolution as military secretary to General Charles Lee
. He returned for a short time to his family's farm in Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia
). He settled in Philadelphia in 1779, where he served as Assistant Auditor General for the Board of Treasury. He was elected Register in 1781, where he assumed responsibility for keeping the financial records and accounts of the new government. He also authenticated each piece of Continental currency by personally signing it.
In 1800, he moved with the federal government from Philadelphia to the City of Washington. He purchased a residence in the Georgetown
area, first at 3101 P Street and later acquired Cedar Hill
(as Dumbarton House was historically named) in 1804. As Register of the Treasury, he worked closely with four administrations and early political leaders of the new nations.
When Andrew Jackson
was elected President in 1829, Joseph Nourse was forced from office.
Register of the Treasury
The Register of the Treasury was an office of the United States Treasury Department. In 1919, the Register became the Public Debt Service which, in 1940, became the Bureau of the Public Debt....
whose career spanned forty years and six presidential administrations. He played a key role in administering the finances of the new Republic.
Nourse first served during the American Revolution as military secretary to General Charles Lee
Charles Lee (general)
Charles Lee was a British soldier who later served as a General of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. Lee served in the British army during the Seven Years War. After the war he sold his commission and served for a time in the Polish army of King Stanislaus II...
. He returned for a short time to his family's farm in Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
). He settled in Philadelphia in 1779, where he served as Assistant Auditor General for the Board of Treasury. He was elected Register in 1781, where he assumed responsibility for keeping the financial records and accounts of the new government. He also authenticated each piece of Continental currency by personally signing it.
In 1800, he moved with the federal government from Philadelphia to the City of Washington. He purchased a residence in the Georgetown
Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
area, first at 3101 P Street and later acquired Cedar Hill
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, administered by the National Park Service, is located at 1411 W St., SE in Anacostia, a neighborhood east of the Anacostia River in Southeast Washington, D.C.. Established in 1988 as a National Historic Site, the site preserves the home and estate of...
(as Dumbarton House was historically named) in 1804. As Register of the Treasury, he worked closely with four administrations and early political leaders of the new nations.
When Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
was elected President in 1829, Joseph Nourse was forced from office.