Peter Grayson Washington

Peter Grayson Washington (August 31, 1798 – February 10, 1872) was an American official who served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury

Peter Grayson Washington
Photograph of Washington, by Mathew Brady, c. 1860–1865
U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
In office
March 14, 1853 – March 12, 1857
Preceded byWilliam L. Hodge
Succeeded byPhilip Clayton
Personal details
Born(1798-08-31)August 31, 1798
Virginia, US
DiedFebruary 10, 1872(1872-02-10) (aged 73)
New York City, US
Spouse
Margaret MacPherson
​
(m. 1822)​

Early life

Washington was born in 1798 in Virginia. He was a son of Susan Monroe (née Grayson) Washington (1770–1822) and Lund Washington (1767–1853), the postmaster of Washington, D.C.[1] After his mother's death in 1822, his father married Sarah Johnson, a daughter of Capt. John Johnson.[2]

His father was named for his uncle, Lund Washington, who was the neighbor and distant cousin of President George Washington. His paternal grandparents were Robert Washington and Alice (née Strother) Washington.[3] His maternal grandparents were Mary Elizabeth (née Wagener) Grayson and the Rev. Spence Monroe Grayson,[4] brother of U.S. Senator William Grayson (through their mother, they were cousins of James Monroe).[5]

Career

Washington began his career as a clerk in the United States Treasury.[6] He was later promoted to Chief Clerk of the Treasurer's Office, Chief Clerk of Sixth Auditor; First Assistant Postmaster General, and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Secretary James Guthrie and Howell Cobb under Presidents Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. He was a vice president of the Oldest Inhabitants' Association of New York City and was a member of the Washington National Monument Association.[7]

Personal life

In 1822, Washington was married to Margaret MacPherson (1786–1874), a daughter of Gen. William MacPherson and Margaret Stout MacPherson. Margaret's younger brother, Joseph Stout MacPherson, was married to Peter's younger sister, Mary Elizabeth Washington.[3] Together, they were the parents of:[2]

  • Virginia Grayson Washington (1824–1869), who died unmarried.[2]
  • Julia Maria Washington (1827–1914), who married Dr. Caleb W. Hornor in 1859.[2]
  • William McPherson Washington (1828–1849), who died unmarried.[2]

Washington died in New York City on February 10, 1872. His funeral was held in Washington at the Church of the Epiphany and conducted by the Rev. Dr. Starkey.[8]

References
  1. Gouverneur, Marian Campbell; Gouverneur, Marian (1911). As I Remember: Recollections of American Society During the Nineteenth Century. D. Appleton. p. 286. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  2. Genealogies of Virginia Families: From Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine. 1981. pp. 107–110. ISBN 978-0-8063-0947-7. Retrieved 23 December 2021. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  3. Browning, Charles Henry (2002). Magna Charta Barons and Their Descendants. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 306. ISBN 978-0-8063-0056-6. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  4. Society, Seventy Six (1857). Publications: Maryland Papers. Seventy Six Society. p. 101. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  5. Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Under the Editorial Supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler. Lewis historical publishing Company. pp. 266, 286, 287, 883. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  6. "WASHINGTON.; Wholesale Decapitation-Peter G. Washington--List of the Dismissed, &c., &c". The New York Times. 22 April 1853. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  7. "Peter G. Washington". Public Ledger. 23 February 1872. p. 1. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  8. "LETTER FROM WASHINGTON". The Baltimore Sun. 14 February 1872. p. 4. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
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