Robert Greenhow
{{Short description|American politician (1761–1840)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = John Greenhow
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1761|5|11}}
| birth_place = Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1840|6|30|1761|5|11}}
| death_place = Washington City, U.S.
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| spouse = Mary Ann Wills
| children = 1
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| occupation = Politician
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Robert Greenhow (May 11, 1761 – June 30, 1840) was an American politician from Virginia. He served as mayor of Williamsburg and as mayor of Richmond in 1813. He also represented James City County in the Virginia House of Delegates.
Early life
Robert Greenhow was born on May 11, 1761, in Williamsburg, Virginia, to Judith (née Davenport) and John Greenhow. His father was a merchant.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-enquirer-died-3-jul-1840-r/154875698/ |title=Died... |date=1840-07-03 |newspaper=Richmond Enquirer |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2024-09-08}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_TykSAAAAYAAJ_2/page/n229/mode/2up |title=Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography |author=Lyon Gardiner Tyler |volume=2 |year=1915 |pages=215–216 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-08}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/jstor-1919905/page/n9/mode/2up |title=Old Virginia Editors |year=1898 |page=17 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-08}}{{Open access}} His father later married Elizabeth Tyler, sister of John Tyler.
Career
Born to a wealthy family, Greenhow had a substitute in his place during the American Revolutionary War He served in a junior company during the Revolutionary War. He helped protect Williamsburg and the banks of the James River.
Greenhow served as mayor of Williamsburg and he represented James City County in the Virginia House of Delegates. In 1810, he moved to Richmond. In 1811, he was appointed as a commissioner to supervise the building of the new Governor's mansion in Richmond.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/richmondherpastp01chri/page/546/mode/2up |title=Richmond: Her Past and Present |last=Christian |first=W. Asbury |year=1912 |pages=75,87–89,546 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-08}}{{Open access}} He served as Richmond's mayor in 1813 during the War of 1812.
Personal life
Greenhow married Mary Ann Wills. He lost his wife in the Richmond Theatre fire in 1811. He and his son Robert Jr. were survivors of the fire.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/richmonditspeopl00stan/page/n155/mode/2up |title=Richmond: Its People and Its Story |last=Stanard |first=Mary Newton |year=1923 |pages=104–105 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2024-09-08}}{{Open access}} His son Robert married Rose O'Neal.
Greenhow was a member of the Episcopal Church for more than 50 years. He was the first warden of the rebuilt Monumental Church in 1814. He died at the home of his son in Washington City on June 30, 1840.
References
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Category:Members of the Virginia House of Delegates
Category:Mayors of Williamsburg, Virginia
Category:Mayors of Richmond, Virginia
Category:United States military personnel of the American Revolution