Samuel Osgood
Samuel Osgood | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date North Andover, Massachusetts |
| Died | August 12, 1813 (aged 66) New York City, New York |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, political figure |
| Known for | First Postmaster General under the U.S. Constitution; founding president of City Bank of New York; Speaker of the New York State Assembly |
Samuel Osgood (February 3, 1747 – August 12, 1813) was a prominent American entrepreneur and political figure originating from North Andover, Massachusetts. His ancestral residence still stands at 440 Osgood Street, while his New York City home, known as the Samuel Osgood House, functioned as the nation's first Presidential mansion. Osgood served in legislative bodies of both Massachusetts and New York, represented Massachusetts in the Continental Congress, and was appointed as the fourth Postmaster General of the United States—notably the first to hold the position under the current Constitution—during President George Washington's initial administration.
In 1812, Osgood took on the role of founding president of the City Bank of New York, an institution that later developed into Citibank, a forerunner of today’s Citigroup.
Early life
John Osgood emigrated from Andover, England to Massachusetts in 1638 and established the town of Andover. Four generations later, Samuel, the third son of Captain Peter Osgood, was born in 1747.
Samuel pursued his education at Dummer Academy (currently The Governor's Academy) and graduated from Harvard College in 1770 with a degree in theology. He then returned to Andover to engage in commerce, joined the local militia, and was elected to the colonial assembly. By 1775, he became a member of the revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress.
The Revolution
During the American Revolution, Osgood commanded a minutemen company at the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775 and took part in the Siege of Boston. He advanced to Major and subsequently Colonel while serving as an aide to General Artemas Ward. After the siege concluded in 1776, he left military service to rejoin the provincial congress.
He was appointed to Massachusetts’ Board of War until 1780, participated as a delegate in the state's constitutional convention (1779–1780), and served two terms in the Massachusetts State Senate. From 1782 to 1784, he represented Massachusetts in the Continental Congress. Following a short tenure in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, he accepted a judgeship in 1785 but resigned shortly thereafter to serve as commissioner of the Treasury. This role required him to move to New York City until the dissolution of the Congressional Government.
Postmaster General and New York career
In 1789, President Washington named Osgood as the first Postmaster General under the new Constitution, succeeding Ebenezer Hazard. During his term until 1791, he reorganized postal services by designating Baltimore’s Post Office as the regional center and replaced postmaster Mary Katherine Goddard with John White.
At that time, with the Federal Government operating out of New York City, Osgood’s residence at 1 Cherry Street served as President Washington’s initial executive mansion. When the government relocated to Philadelphia, Osgood stayed in New York and resigned from his post in 1791. He acted as a presidential elector in 1792, casting votes for George Washington and George Clinton.
Osgood was elected to the New York State Assembly for sessions in 1800–01 and 1802, serving as Speaker during 1800–01. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson appointed him Naval Officer of the Port of New York, a position he maintained until his passing. Additionally, he held the presidency of the City Bank of New York during his final year.
In 1807, Osgood contributed to acquiring land for what became known as the Spring Street Presbyterian Church. A member of the American Philosophical Society, he devoted his later years to writing and sustained extensive correspondence with prominent figures such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
Personal life
On January 4, 1775, Osgood entered into marriage with Martha Brandon, who passed away in 1778. Subsequently, on May 24, 1786, he wed Maria Bowne (1754–1813), the widow of Walter Franklin and mother to Maria Franklin Clinton, the first spouse of New York Governor DeWitt Clinton. Together, they had a daughter named Martha Brandon Osgood, who later married the diplomat Edmond-Charles Genêt. Osgood's brother, Isaac, married Sarah Pickman (1772–1791) in 1790; following her death, he married her sister Rebecca Taylor Pickman (1775–1801) in 1794. Their children included a son, Isaac Osgood Jr., whose daughter Charlotte became the wife of Moses T. Stevens, and a daughter, Sally Pickman Osgood, who married Bailey Loring and was the mother of George B. Loring. In 1802, Isaac contracted his third marriage with Mary Pickman, a cousin to his previous wives and sibling to Benjamin Pickman.
Death
Osgood passed away in New York City in 1813.
His birthplace in North Andover, Massachusetts, situated on a street bearing his family’s name, is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, as is his residence in New York. The portrait of Colonel Osgood has been exhibited in the President's Room of the U.S. Capitol since the era of President Lincoln.