Temporary record

J. B. Stuart was born, probably in upstate New York, on July 26th, 1787. He studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, receiving his degree in 1810, published his thesis, but appears to have practiced for only a very brief time. Following service in the War of 1812 as paymaster in the 29th Infantry, Stuart was appointed Chancellor to the U.S. Consulate in London (Otober 1815-June 1816), giving him the opportunity to travel widely in Europe.

Upon his return to the U.S., Stuart engaged in a series of diverse and highly successful business enterprises, the most noteworthy of which was building and running the steamboat Walk-in-the-Water. Launched in August, 1818, the Walk-in-the-Water was the first steamboat to operate on the Great Lakes, making regular runs between Buffalo and Detroit. Among his other enterprises, Stuart was engaged as agent to William Temple Franklin, who was editing the correspondence of his grandfather, Benjamin; and as agent for Francois Cazeau, a French citizen and former resident of Canada who was presenting a claim for Revolutionary War reparations to Congress. During this period, Stuart was also heavily involved in land speculation in Ohio, ran a sawmill and store in Sandusky, and attempted to open a branch of the Bank of U.S. in Albany. He was married on May 27th, 1818, to Ann Leonard.

Stuart's financial fortunes waned from 1819 through 1822, partly as a result of losses sustained in the Panic of 1819 and partly as a result of a spate of lawsuits directed against him. He settled in Jamesville, N.Y., where he was occupied in farming, distilling and milling, and in 1821, was admitted to the bar. Thereafter, his life is obscure, but he appears to have worked as an attorney until his death on January 28th, 1828.

Scope and contents:

The heart of the Stuart Papers are the eight small diaries kept by Stuart from October 8th, 1815 through November 24th, 1822. These include records of his tours in Europe while working with the Consulate in London, a trip to Ohio in the summer fo 1817 that includes an account of a meeting with Indians, and interesting descriptions of his financial doings. Most important, however, is Stuart's fascinating account of a visit with Thomas Jefferson at Monticello on December 24th and 25th, 1816, in which he recorded details of Jefferson's comments on a variety of subjects, such as the national debt, banking, the national 'war spirit,' and religious fanaticism. Stuart provided a fine description of Monticello and Jefferson himself and seems, bitingly, to refer to Jefferson's rumored daliances with his slaves. The diaries also includes information on the planning, construction, testing and first runs of the Walk-in-the-Water, though much of this information is very brief.

A second important component of the Stuart Papers are the architectural plans prepared for Stuart in 1818 by Philip Hooker. The plans are for a two-story house that would include space for a store or office on the ground floor.

The collection also contains 53 items dating between 1810 and 1824, 4 items relating to his brief medical practice, and 22 items relating to his military service with the 29th Regiment, mostly pay rolls and returns. There is a file containing 14 miscellaneous letters relating to Stuart's father-in-law, Enoch Leonard, including a 1779 commission as Asst. Commissary in Albany.

M-2596

Subjects

Architecture--New York (State)
Diaries
Europe--Description and travel
Hooker, Philip, 1766-1836
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Ohio--Description and travel
Steamboats--Great Lakes
Walk-in-the-Water (Steamboat)

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