Robert Brent

Robert Brent
1st Mayor of Washington, D.C.
In office 1802–1812
Preceded by	office created
Succeeded by	Daniel Rapine
Personal details
Born	1764 Woodstock, Stafford County, Virginia
Died	September 7, 1819 Washington, D.C.
Political party	Democratic-Republican Party
Spouse(s)	Mary Young
Profession	quarry owner

Robert Brent (1764 – September 7, 1819) was the first mayor of Washington, D.C., the federal capital of the United States of America. Brent was born into a prominent Catholic family, for which the Brent Society is named. The family lived in , which was then in Stafford County, Virginia. His mother was Ann Carroll, whose brother John Carroll was the first Catholic Bishop appointed for the United States. Brent's father was a contractor and quarry owner.

In 1789 Brent married Mary Young — the daughter of Notley Young, a plantation owner in Prince George's County, Maryland. The couple resided on the Young family property after their marriage, and a few years later, Young's property was among those annexed by the Federal government for the new national capital, making Brent one of the first residents of the newly created Washington City. He soon took over his father's businesses, selling sandstone to the U.S. government for the White House, U.S. Capitol, and other early construction projects in the District of Columbia and thereby becoming one of the capital's most prominent merchants.

In 1802 Congress officially incorporated the city, including in its incorporation a directive for a mayor to be appointed annually by the President of the United States. On June 3, 1802 Thomas Jefferson wrote to Brent informing Brent of his intention to appoint Brent as mayor of the city. Brent replied accepting the appointment that same day: "Altho I feel great diffidence in the talents I possess for executing that duty, in a manner which may afford general satisfaction, yet feeling it a duty to contribute my feeble aid for the public service, I will venture upon its duties."

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