Daniel McCarty (Virginia politician)
Daniel McCarty (c.1679 – May 4, 1724) was a politician and lawyer in the British colony of Virginia. He served as Speaker of the House of Burgesses (1715–18) and represented Westmoreland County in the House for several sessions.[1][2]
Daniel McCarty | |
|---|---|
| 29th Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses | |
| In office 1715–1718 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Beverley |
| Succeeded by | John Holloway |
| Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses representing Westmoreland County | |
| In office 1705–1724 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1679 |
| Died | May 4, 1724 Virginia |
| Children | 8 |
| Occupation | Attorney, politician |
Early life and education
McCarty was born in 1679, the son of wealthy Irish immigrants who had arrived in Virginia four years' prior.[3][4]
He studied law and in 1702 at the age of 23, he began working as an assistant at the Westmoreland County Court. In 1703, he was an active attorney in the county, and in 1704 he was appointed as the "Queen's Attorney" in the county.[1]
Career
In 1705, McCarty entered the House of Burgesses as a member.[5] He was appointed to the committee for privileges and elections and took an active part in the work of the House.
In addition to representing the area in the House of Burgesses, McCarty held other positions within Westmoreland County. In 1710, he was appointed as a Judge of the Westmoreland County Court and as Sheriff of the county for a period.[6] In 1714, McCarty served as Collector of Customs for the Potomac River district of the colony.[1]
Outside of his political career, McCarty was a prominent landowner and planter in Virginia.[6] He owned 150 acres of land in Westmoreland County, 1,350 acres of land in Richmond County, and other land holdings in Prince William, and Stafford counties.[3][7][8]
Speaker of the House of Burgesses
In August 1715, McCarty defeated three other candidates in the election for Speaker of the House of Burgesses. The session of 1715, over which McCarty presided, has been regarded by historians as a period of intense political infighting between Governor Alexander Spotswood and the House of Burgesses.[9]
McCarty remained as an active member of the House for several subsequent sessions, including serving as chairman on the committee on propositions and grievances.[1]
Death
McCarty died on May 4, 1724, at the age of 45.[6] He was buried in the churchyard of Yeocomico Church.[1]
References
- "House History". history.house.virginia.gov. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- Norris, Walter Biscoe (1983). Westmoreland County, Virginia, 1653-1983. Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors.
- "Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography". vagenweb.org. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- Stanard, Mary Newton (1917). Colonial Virginia: Its People and Customs. J. B. Lippincott Company. ISBN 978-0-7222-4670-2.
- McCarty, Clara S. (1972). McCartys of Virginia: With Emphasis on the First Four Generations in the Colony. Dietz Press.
- McCarty, William M.; Much, Kathleen (2005). The McCartys of the Northern Neck: 350 Years of a Virginia Family. Gateway Press. ISBN 978-0-9767155-0-4.
- Hayden, Horace Edwin (1891). Virginia Genealogies: A Genealogy of the Glassell Family of Scotland and Virginia : Also of the Families of Ball, Brown, Bryan, Conway, Daniel, Ewell, Holladay, Lewis, Littlepage, Moncure, Peyton, Robinson, Scott, Taylor, Wallace, and Others, of Virginia and Maryland. E.B. Yordy, printer.
- William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine. The College. 1922.
- Burgesses, Virginia General Assembly House of (1718). Some Remarkable Proceedings in the Assembly of Virginia, Anno 1718: On the 20th. of November, the Following Address, Being Brought in by a Member of the House of Burgesses, was Immediately Put to the Vote, Agreed To, and Sign'd by the Speaker. Andrew Bradford.