Ebenezer Denny

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This article is about the mayor of Pittsburgh, for other people named Ebenezer Denny see Ebenezer Denny (disambiguation).

Ebenezer Denny (March 11, 1761July 21, 1822), served as the first Mayor of Pittsburgh City from 1816 to 1817 (previously it had been a council ruled "borough" since the 1780s).

Early life

Denny was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and early in life joined the First Pennsylvania Regiment during the American Revolutionary War. His battlefield eyewitness accounts have been used by several histories and documentaries, most notably his accounts of the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia.

On his return to civilian life after the war for independence, Denny settled in the frontier town of Pittsburgh and entered the mercantile trade. His thriving businesses supplied the American forces in the western theaters in the War of 1812 and frontier outposts during Indian wars. An 1813 Pittsburgh directory lists him as "Merchant, corner of Market and Third."

Pittsburgh politics

Unlike other early pioneer towns and cities, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania did not allow settlement to city without first being a council led "borough" for a number of years. Partly because of this, Denny instead started his political career in county government serving Pittsburgh.

In 1797 Denny was elected Allegheny County Commissioner, he eventually sought even higher office and ran successfully as Treasurer for the entire county in 1803 and 1808.

Being a Revolutionary War hero, and major patriot force for the frontier front of the War of 1812, Ebenezer ran successfully to become the first mayor of the "city" of Pittsburgh on July 19, 1816.

His term in office saw much progress in the infrastructure of the young city, improving roads and wharves. Citing failing health he retired from public life and the mayor's office on January 14, 1817. He is buried in Allegheny Cemetery in the Lawrenceville neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

Later life

Honors

One of the first resolutions of the Pittsburgh City Council was that of honoring the patriotic and public service of Ebenezer Denny on learning of his early retirement due to health concerns in 1817. Denny Street was also named in his honor in the city's Lawrenceville neighborhood.

Preceded by
Borough (non-"city") Council rule
Mayor of Pittsburgh
1816–1817
Succeeded by

References