ROGER CHEW WEIGHTMAN

(1785 – 1876)

8th mayor of the District, born in Alexandria, VA shortly after his parents arrived from England. He was first a printer and later bought a bookstore on F St. N.W. During the British invasion of 1814 he was a 1st Lieut. in D.C.’s Light Horse Calvary. He was elected mayor in 1824 to fill out the term of Smallwood who died suddenly. He was elected to a second term in 1826. After leaving office, Weightman served as Cashier of the Bank of Washington and later as Chief Clerk at the Patent Office. Weightman was a wealthy and prominent member of Washington society who regularly served on prestigious committees as well as a trustee of cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian.

Image Courtesy of: D.C. Historical Society

Weightman School
23rd and M Street N.W.

Built in 1886, Razed 19??.

Built as a public school, later it was known as the Weightman School for Crippled Children. Eleanor Roosevelt was one of its most ardent supporters.

Congressional Cemetery
Range 53 Site 134