# Robert Greenhow

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robert_Greenhow
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Robert_Greenhow.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Greenhow
> Source revision: 1244676205
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

American politician (1761–1840)

John Greenhow Personal details Born (1761-05-11)May 11, 1761 Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S. Died June 30, 1840(1840-06-30) (aged 79) Washington City, U.S. Spouse Mary Ann Wills Children 1 Occupation Politician

**Robert Greenhow** (May 11, 1761 – June 30, 1840) was an American politician from Virginia. He served as mayor of [Williamsburg](/source/Williamsburg%2C_Virginia) and as mayor of [Richmond](/source/Richmond%2C_Virginia) in 1813. He also represented [James City County](/source/James_City_County%2C_Virginia) in the [Virginia House of Delegates](/source/Virginia_House_of_Delegates).

## Early life

Robert Greenhow was born on May 11, 1761, in [Williamsburg, Virginia](/source/Williamsburg%2C_Virginia), to Judith (née Davenport) and John Greenhow. His father was a merchant.[1][2][3] His father later married Elizabeth Tyler, sister of [John Tyler](/source/John_Tyler).[3]

## Career

Born to a wealthy family, Greenhow had a substitute in his place during the [American Revolutionary War](/source/American_Revolutionary_War) He served in a junior company during the Revolutionary War. He helped protect Williamsburg and the banks of the [James River](/source/James_River).[1]

Greenhow served as mayor of Williamsburg and he represented [James City County](/source/James_City_County%2C_Virginia) in the [Virginia House of Delegates](/source/Virginia_House_of_Delegates). In 1810, he moved to [Richmond](/source/Richmond%2C_Virginia).[1] In 1811, he was appointed as a commissioner to supervise the building of the new Governor's mansion in Richmond.[4] He served as Richmond's mayor in 1813 during the [War of 1812](/source/War_of_1812).[1][4]

Greenhow was an organizer of the Virginia Bible Society.[4]

## Personal life

Greenhow married Mary Ann Wills. He lost his wife in the [Richmond Theatre fire](/source/Richmond_Theatre_fire) in 1811. He and his son Robert Jr. were survivors of the fire.[2][5] His son Robert married [Rose O'Neal](/source/Rose_O'Neal_Greenhow).[3]

Greenhow was a member of the Episcopal Church for more than 50 years.[1] He was the first warden of the rebuilt Monumental Church in 1814.[4] He died at the home of his son in [Washington City](/source/Washington_City) on June 30, 1840.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-obit_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-obit_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-obit_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-obit_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-obit_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-obit_1-5) ["Died..."](https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-enquirer-died-3-jul-1840-r/154875698/) *Richmond Enquirer*. July 3, 1840. p. 3. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-virginia_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-virginia_2-1) [Lyon Gardiner Tyler](/source/Lyon_Gardiner_Tyler) (1915). [*Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography*](https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_TykSAAAAYAAJ_2/page/n229/mode/2up). Vol. 2. pp. 215–216. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via [Archive.org](/source/Archive.org).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-editors_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-editors_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-editors_3-2) [*Old Virginia Editors*](https://archive.org/details/jstor-1919905/page/n9/mode/2up). 1898. p. 17. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via [Archive.org](/source/Archive.org).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-richmond_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-richmond_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-richmond_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-richmond_4-3) Christian, W. Asbury (1912). [*Richmond: Her Past and Present*](https://archive.org/details/richmondherpastp01chri/page/546/mode/2up). pp. 75, 87–89, 546. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via [Archive.org](/source/Archive.org).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Stanard, Mary Newton (1923). [*Richmond: Its People and Its Story*](https://archive.org/details/richmonditspeopl00stan/page/n155/mode/2up). pp. 104–105. Retrieved September 8, 2024 – via [Archive.org](/source/Archive.org).

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robert Greenhow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Greenhow) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Greenhow?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.