Walter Dulany

Walter Dulany (died 1773) was a politician in Colonial Maryland, who served as Mayor of Annapolis from 1766 to 1767. His family house and land at Windmill Point later became the location for the United States Naval Academy.

Walter Dulany
Mayor of Annapolis
In office
1766–1767
Preceded byJohn Ross
Succeeded byUpton Scott
Personal details
Born1722
Maryland
DiedSeptember 20, 1773
Anne Arundel, Maryland
Spouse(s)Mary Grafton
RelationsDaniel Dulany the Elder (father)
Daniel Dulany the Younger (brother)
ResidenceWindmill Point
Occupationplanter, politician
Commissary General
Walter Dulany's house at Windmill Point would become part of Fort Severn, and later still a part of the United States Naval Academy.

Early life

Dulany was the second son of Daniel Dulany the Elder and his wife Rebecca Smith.[1]

On June 30, 1753 Walter Dulany bought a house in Annapolis from one Simon Duff, described as "sixty five feet in length and twenty one feet in breadth, to which is a good cellar, garden, and all necessary out-houses, delightfully situated, near a good landing".[2] Dulany paid £250 for his new house, "wherein the said Simon Duff now liveth". The Dulany family would live there from 1753 to 1808.[3]

Politics

Politically, Dulany was a Loyalist, like his father and older brother Daniel Dulany the Younger. He served as Mayor of Annapolis from 1766 to 1767. He was also Judge for probate of wills,[4] and succeeded his father as Commissary General.[1] Indeed, it was claimed that the office of Commissary General was "almost hereditary" within the Dulany family.[5]

Coming of Revolution
Samuel Chase, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Dulany's implacable opponent.
Dulany's older brother, Daniel Dulany the Younger

In 1766, the year he became Mayor, Dulany became embroiled in a war of words with Samuel Chase, a vocal opponent of the Stamp Act and later a signer of the American Declaration of Independence. In an open letter dated July 18, 1766 Chase attacked Dulany, Michael MacNamara, John Brice, George Steuart (1700–1784), and others for publishing an article in the Maryland Gazette Extraordinary of June 19, 1766, in which Chase had been accused of being: "a busy, reckless incendiary, a ringleader of mobs, a foul-mouthed and inflaming son of discord and faction, a common disturber of the public tranquility".[6]

In his response, Chase accused Dulany and the others of "vanity ... pride and arrogance", and of being brought to power by "proprietary influence, court favour, and the wealth and influence of the tools and favourites who infest this city." [6]

In particular Chase accused Dulany of electoral impropriety:

You were re-elected by mere chance, but upon a petition from the citizens, complaining of an undue election, you were again discharged from the house, and another gentleman chosen in your room, I was unfortunately of that number who were of opinion your election was void, and voted accordingly. This, Sir, is the cause of your resentment against me ...[7]

The Dulany family were loyal to the Crown during the Revolution and as a result most of their extensive estates were confiscated after the war.[1] Walter's son, Walter Dulany the younger, appealed to the American Loyalist Claims Commission in Great Britain for restitution.[8]

Family

Dulany married Mary Grafton, daughter of Richard Grafton.[1] They had seven children:

  • Walter Jr.,
  • Daniel,
  • Grafton Lloyd,
  • Rebecca,
  • Mary,
  • Margaret, and
  • Catherine, who married Horatio Sharp Belt on July 23, 1783.

Death and legacy

Walter Dulany died on September 20, 1773.[9] In 1808 the younger Walter Dulany sold his family house at Windmill Point to the United States Government, which assigned the house to the commander of Fort Severn which was subsequently built there. After 1845 the house was occupied by the various superintendents of the United States Naval Academy.[3]

See also

References
  1. Warfield, J. D., p. 184, The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland Retrieved November 2010
  2. Soley, James Russell, p. 126, Historical Sketch of the United States Naval Academy Retrieved November 2010
  3. Soley, James Russell, p. 127, Historical Sketch of the United States Naval Academy (1876) Retrieved November 2010
  4. Harris, Thomas, p.511, Maryland Reports, Volume 1 Retrieved November 2010
  5. Warfield, J. D., p. 215, The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland Retrieved November 2010
  6. Sanderson, John J, p.67, Biography of the Signers To the Declaration of Independence, Volume 5, published by R W Pomery (1823). Retrieved Jan 21 2010
  7. Sanderson, John J, p.366, Biography of the Signers To the Declaration of Independence, Volume 5 published by R W Pomery (1823) Retrieved November 2010
  8. "Walter Dulany" (yes). UK, American Loyalist Claims, 1776-1835. Ancestry.com. March 19, 1785.
  9. Maryland Archives http://www.msa.md.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/000300/000373/html/373bio.html
Preceded by
John Ross		 Mayor of Annapolis
1766–1767		 Succeeded by
Upton Scott
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