Pedro Casanave

Pedro Pablo Casanave (c. 1766 – 1796), also known as Peter Casanave, was a Spanish American merchant and politician who served as the fifth mayor of Georgetown, Maryland He was a member of the Georgetown Common Council. Casanave, a Master Mason, is particularly remembered for presiding over the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of President's House, later known as the White House, on October 12, 1792.

Early life Casanave was born at Navarre, Spain in about 1766. He was the thirteenth son of a lawyer and trader in Navarre.

Career

Casanave emigrated to Georgetown in 1785. Although he brought only 200 pounds sterling with him and spoke English poorly, he soon opened a warehouse from which he sold salt at low prices, rum, sugar, oil, pork meat, pomade, and hair powder. He opened the warehouse with the help of his friend George Washington, whom he knew through his uncle, Juan de Miralles, agent to the Continental Congress. Casanave had little capital and the shop was financed mainly by Washington.

In 1790, Casanave founded a nail factory, the first in Georgetown, and a night dancing school for men, then set himself up as a real state agent selling local properties. Between late 1790 and 1793, he served as the sponsor, agent, and banker for many of Georgetown College's first boarding students. He managed the money he received from their parents, since there were then no commercial banks in Georgetown, and paid all the students' tuition and boarding charges. Casanave apparently perfected his still deficient English at this college, and taught English to several immigrants. Later, one of his sons, also called Peter, studied there.

According to historian Robert Cooper, a procession of Masons formed in Georgetown at the Fountain Inn, and marched to the site of the excavated foundation of the new President's House. A brass plate placed under the stone read:

This first stone of the President's House was laid the 12th day of October 1792, and in the 17th Year of the Independence of the United States of America Casanave and Young had two children: Peter and Joane Casanave.

Death Casanave died in 1796. It is not known exactly how old he was at the time of his death. Based on some testimonials by participants in the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone of President's House, however, he is estimated to have been approximately 30 years old.