Thomas Carbery
Encyclopedia
Thomas Carbery (born, June 26,1791 - died, May 23, 1863) was the sixth mayor of Washington, D.C.
serving from 1822-1824. He ran again for mayor in 1824 and 1826 but was not re-elected.
. Carbery himself was a captain in the Army.
NW) in the northernmost section of the District of Columbia that is now the Takoma neighborhood.)
Carbery's sister Ann Mattingly, who lived with him in Carbery house, became extremely ill in 1815 with what doctors diagnosed as an internal cancer. Carbery, a devout Roman Catholic, summoned a German
priest who was famous for miraculous cures; the priest said a Novena
with the family, then gave Communion
to Mrs. Mattingly; shortly afterwards Mrs. Mattingly sat up in bed, the affliction apparently gone. The Catholic Church considered this much-publicized incident to be one of the first miracles documented in the United States
.
in a race so close that Weightman sued him; the lawsuit was tied up in court for the entire two years of Carbery's term.
In 1824, Smallwood again sought the office of mayor, defeating the incumbent Carbery's bid for re-election. Carbery ran again in 1826, re-matched with Weightman, and lost.
, in the 1830s. He ultimately became chairman of the monument's building committee when construction began in 1848.
During the 1820s, Carbery was a member of the prestigious society, Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences
, who counted among their members former presidents Andrew Jackson
and John Quincy Adams
and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions.
In 1844, Carbery was appointed by President
John Tyler
as Justice of the Peace
for Washington County. He would be re-nominated by every succeeding president until his death.
in Washington.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
serving from 1822-1824. He ran again for mayor in 1824 and 1826 but was not re-elected.
History
Little background information is extant about Carbery. He was president of the National Metropolitan Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in Washington (it underwrote the payroll of the entire U.S. Army during the War of 1812War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. Carbery himself was a captain in the Army.
Personal life
Carbery lived in a large house on 17th Street NW, adjacent to The Ellipse, known as Carbery House. The house was built in 1818 and survived 85 years, demolished in 1903. (Carbery also maintained an estate off Seventh Street Road (now known as Georgia AvenueGeorgia Avenue
Georgia Avenue is a major north-south artery in Northwest Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland. Within the District of Columbia and a short distance in Silver Spring, Maryland, Georgia Avenue is also U.S. Route 29...
NW) in the northernmost section of the District of Columbia that is now the Takoma neighborhood.)
Carbery's sister Ann Mattingly, who lived with him in Carbery house, became extremely ill in 1815 with what doctors diagnosed as an internal cancer. Carbery, a devout Roman Catholic, summoned a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
priest who was famous for miraculous cures; the priest said a Novena
Novena
In the Catholic Church, a novena is a devotion consisting of a prayer repeated on nine successive days, asking to obtain special graces. The prayers may come from prayer books, or consist of the recitation of the Rosary , or of short prayers through the day...
with the family, then gave Communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
to Mrs. Mattingly; shortly afterwards Mrs. Mattingly sat up in bed, the affliction apparently gone. The Catholic Church considered this much-publicized incident to be one of the first miracles documented in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Mayor of Washington D.C.
When the beloved (and first popularly elected) mayor of Washington, Samuel N. Smallwood, announced that he would not run for a second elected term as mayor, Carbery sought the office. In 1822 he defeated Roger C. WeightmanRoger C. Weightman
Roger Chew Weightman was an American politician, civic leader, and printer. He was the mayor of Washington, D.C. from 1824 to 1827....
in a race so close that Weightman sued him; the lawsuit was tied up in court for the entire two years of Carbery's term.
In 1824, Smallwood again sought the office of mayor, defeating the incumbent Carbery's bid for re-election. Carbery ran again in 1826, re-matched with Weightman, and lost.
Societies
Carbery was a charter member and officer of the Washington National Monument Society, the group that ultimately financed the construction of the Washington MonumentWashington Monument
The Washington Monument is an obelisk near the west end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington...
, in the 1830s. He ultimately became chairman of the monument's building committee when construction began in 1848.
During the 1820s, Carbery was a member of the prestigious society, Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences
Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences
The Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences was a literary and science institution in Washington, D.C., founded by Dr. Edward Cutbush , a naval surgeon...
, who counted among their members former presidents 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...
and John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
and many prominent men of the day, including well-known representatives of the military, government service, medical and other professions.
In 1844, Carbery was appointed by President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
John Tyler
John Tyler
John Tyler was the tenth President of the United States . A native of Virginia, Tyler served as a state legislator, governor, U.S. representative, and U.S. senator before being elected Vice President . He was the first to succeed to the office of President following the death of a predecessor...
as Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Washington County. He would be re-nominated by every succeeding president until his death.
Later life
Carbery died at his home in 1863. He was interred in Mount Olivet CemeteryMount Olivet Cemetery (Washington, D.C.)
Mount Olivet Cemetery is an historic cemetery located at 1300 Bladensburg Road, NE in Washington, D.C. It is maintained by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.-Notable interments:* George W. Harvey , Washington restaurateur...
in Washington.