Webb was born in the City of Washington, DC on September 17, 1825.[1] He was only 19 years old when he graduated from Columbia College (now George Washington University), and was admitted to the District of Columbia bar Three years later. Upon admission he entered practice, in which he remained until 1861.[2] That year, the capital's Metropolitan Police Department was organized, and Webb was appointed its first superintendent by Mayor Richard Wallach. It was under Webb's administration that the police force conducted the investigation into the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. That same year, Webb resigned from the Police Department and returned to his Washington law practice, where he commanded an extremely high reputation among his colleagues. The Washington Post said of Webb that "his digest of municipal laws, as affecting the national capital, is regarded as the standard authority."[3]
In 1885, upon the vacancy of Joseph Rodman West from his seat on the D.C. Board of Commissioners, PresidentGrover Cleveland surprised the city establishment by offering the appointment to the popular and respected Webb, who accepted and joined the commission for its sixth session in July, 1885. When board president James Barker Edmonds declined reappointment on April 1, 1886, Cleveland raised Webb to the position.
Webb died at his home in Washington on March 13, 1896, at the age of 70. He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.[4]
In 1901, The William Benning Webb School, named in his honor, opened at 15th and Rosedale, NE. It was an all-white school, but by 1947 it had become unused and at late that year became an annex to all-black Browne Junior High School. It was shut down some time shortly thereafter and has been used for school storage ever since.
Referencesedit
^The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. II. James T. White & Company. 1921. p. 230. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Google Books.
^"At the National Capital" (PDF). The New York Times. Washington. April 20, 1885. p. 1. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
^"Webb's in the Military". Webb-Deiss Research. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
^"Flag Flies at Half-Mast". The Evening Times. March 14, 1896. p. 2. Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
External linksedit
Media related to William Benning Webb at Wikimedia Commons
william, benning, webb, september, 1825, march, 1896, american, politician, attorney, police, superintendent, washington, president, board, commissioners, district, columbia, from, 1886, 1889, first, president, board, commissioners, born, washington, president. William Benning Webb September 17 1825 March 13 1896 was an American politician and attorney who was the Police Superintendent of Washington D C and president of the board of commissioners for the District of Columbia U S from 1886 to 1889 He was the first President of the Board of Commissioners to be born in Washington William Benning Webb5th President of the Board of Commissioners of Washington D C In office January 1 1886 May 21 1889PresidentGrover ClevelandBenjamin HarrisonPreceded byJames Barker EdmondsSucceeded byJohn Watkinson DouglassMember of the Board of Commissioners of Washington D C In office July 22 1885 May 21 1889PresidentGrover ClevelandBenjamin HarrisonPreceded byJoseph Rodman WestSucceeded byJohn Watkinson DouglassPersonal detailsBornSeptember 17 1825City of Washington D C U S DiedMarch 13 1896Washington D C U S Resting placeOak Hill CemeteryGeorgetown Washington D C Political partyRepublicanAlma materColumbia CollegeProfessionAttorney PoliticianBiography editWebb was born in the City of Washington DC on September 17 1825 1 He was only 19 years old when he graduated from Columbia College now George Washington University and was admitted to the District of Columbia bar Three years later Upon admission he entered practice in which he remained until 1861 2 That year the capital s Metropolitan Police Department was organized and Webb was appointed its first superintendent by Mayor Richard Wallach It was under Webb s administration that the police force conducted the investigation into the assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865 That same year Webb resigned from the Police Department and returned to his Washington law practice where he commanded an extremely high reputation among his colleagues The Washington Post said of Webb that his digest of municipal laws as affecting the national capital is regarded as the standard authority 3 In 1885 upon the vacancy of Joseph Rodman West from his seat on the D C Board of Commissioners President Grover Cleveland surprised the city establishment by offering the appointment to the popular and respected Webb who accepted and joined the commission for its sixth session in July 1885 When board president James Barker Edmonds declined reappointment on April 1 1886 Cleveland raised Webb to the position Webb died at his home in Washington on March 13 1896 at the age of 70 He was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery 4 In 1901 The William Benning Webb School named in his honor opened at 15th and Rosedale NE It was an all white school but by 1947 it had become unused and at late that year became an annex to all black Browne Junior High School It was shut down some time shortly thereafter and has been used for school storage ever since References edit The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Vol II James T White amp Company 1921 p 230 Retrieved May 5 2021 via Google Books At the National Capital PDF The New York Times Washington April 20 1885 p 1 Retrieved May 5 2021 Webb s in the Military Webb Deiss Research Retrieved May 5 2021 Flag Flies at Half Mast The Evening Times March 14 1896 p 2 Retrieved May 5 2021 via Newspapers com External links edit nbsp Media related to William Benning Webb at Wikimedia Commons Political offices Preceded byJames Barker Edmonds President of the D C Board of Commissioners1886 1889 Succeeded byJohn Watkinson Douglass nbsp nbsp This article about a Washington DC politician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Benning Webb amp oldid 1223583925, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
