David Arell | |
---|---|
Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia | |
In office April 1786 – 1786 | |
Preceded by | James Kirk |
Succeeded by | John Fitzgerald |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1750 Pennsylvania British America |
Died | c. 1792 (aged 41–42) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. |
Spouse | Phoebe Caverly |
Children | 2 |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | Continental Army |
Years of service | 1775–1778 |
Rank | Captain |
David Arell ( c. 1750 – c. 1792) was a Revolutionary War officer, politician, and judge. [1] [2] [3] Arell served as mayor of Alexandria in 1786 and was a longtime acquaintance and personal attorney of George Washington. [4] [5]
David Arell was born around 1750 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Richard Arell (a merchant). [6] [7] By the early 1770s, Arell's family had moved to Alexandria. [8] He became acquainted with George Washington as early at April 1773, and is included in his diary entries. [9] [10]
On May 12, 1785, Arell married Phoebe Caverly in Fairfax County, Virginia. They had two children, Richard and Christina. [8] In 1790, Arell petitioned for a divorce from his wife due to her alleged infidelity, with court documents referring to her as "practically a prostitute." [11]
During the American Revolution, Arell served as a lieutenant and later captain of Company No. 2 in the 3rd Virginia Regiment, Alexandria's "Independent Blues" militia. [12] [13] He resigned from the army in February 1778 to return to his law practice. [8] [1]
Arell was a prominent attorney and practiced law in the city for several years. [14] He also served as justice of the regional Hustings Court. [15] [16] [17] Arell was active in real estate and had several property and land holdings in Alexandria and Fredericksburg. [8] Arell was granted 4,000 acres of land by the Virginia General Assembly. [1]
In 1780, George Washington sought Arell's advice and legal representation during a legal dispute. [5] [18] In the same year, Arell was selected as one of the first trustees and council members of Alexandria. [19] [20]
Beginning in April 1786, Arell briefly served as the mayor of Alexandria following the death of incumbent mayor James Kirk. [21] He was also an active member of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22. [8] [4] [3]
In the 1780s and 1790s, Arell helped to raise funds to support Washington College. [14]
Arell died around 1792. [14] He is buried at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria. Arell is listed as a qualifying ancestor by the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution. [12]
Arell's Alexandria home at 219 South Lee Street is included in historic walking tours of the city. [22] "Arell Court" is a street in Alexandria.
David Arell | |
---|---|
Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia | |
In office April 1786 – 1786 | |
Preceded by | James Kirk |
Succeeded by | John Fitzgerald |
Personal details | |
Born | c. 1750 Pennsylvania British America |
Died | c. 1792 (aged 41–42) Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. |
Spouse | Phoebe Caverly |
Children | 2 |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | Continental Army |
Years of service | 1775–1778 |
Rank | Captain |
David Arell ( c. 1750 – c. 1792) was a Revolutionary War officer, politician, and judge. [1] [2] [3] Arell served as mayor of Alexandria in 1786 and was a longtime acquaintance and personal attorney of George Washington. [4] [5]
David Arell was born around 1750 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Richard Arell (a merchant). [6] [7] By the early 1770s, Arell's family had moved to Alexandria. [8] He became acquainted with George Washington as early at April 1773, and is included in his diary entries. [9] [10]
On May 12, 1785, Arell married Phoebe Caverly in Fairfax County, Virginia. They had two children, Richard and Christina. [8] In 1790, Arell petitioned for a divorce from his wife due to her alleged infidelity, with court documents referring to her as "practically a prostitute." [11]
During the American Revolution, Arell served as a lieutenant and later captain of Company No. 2 in the 3rd Virginia Regiment, Alexandria's "Independent Blues" militia. [12] [13] He resigned from the army in February 1778 to return to his law practice. [8] [1]
Arell was a prominent attorney and practiced law in the city for several years. [14] He also served as justice of the regional Hustings Court. [15] [16] [17] Arell was active in real estate and had several property and land holdings in Alexandria and Fredericksburg. [8] Arell was granted 4,000 acres of land by the Virginia General Assembly. [1]
In 1780, George Washington sought Arell's advice and legal representation during a legal dispute. [5] [18] In the same year, Arell was selected as one of the first trustees and council members of Alexandria. [19] [20]
Beginning in April 1786, Arell briefly served as the mayor of Alexandria following the death of incumbent mayor James Kirk. [21] He was also an active member of the Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22. [8] [4] [3]
In the 1780s and 1790s, Arell helped to raise funds to support Washington College. [14]
Arell died around 1792. [14] He is buried at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria. Arell is listed as a qualifying ancestor by the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution. [12]
Arell's Alexandria home at 219 South Lee Street is included in historic walking tours of the city. [22] "Arell Court" is a street in Alexandria.