1854

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Events

• February 25 - The Corporation of Charlottesville held its mayoral election. Drury Wood, who received 75 votes, was the winner.
• Council voted to present the town's mayor with "properly engraved" silver plate worth $250.
• September 1 - Mayor Drury Wood handed in his resignation. The council appointed R.T.W. Duke, first Alderman, to the office of mayor. James H. Wood was elected fourth Alderman.
• September 2 - R.T.W. Duke took the oath of office as mayor.
• November 24 - Mayor R.T.W. Duke resigned. John B. Dodd, first Alderman, was unanimously elected Mayor of the Corporation of Charlottesville. Wickleff Hutchinson was unanimously elected fourth Alderman to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Mr. Dodd.

Deaths

• March 24 - Dabney Smith Carr (1802-1854) Newspaper publisher and U.S. Minister to Turkey (1843-1849) died in Charlottesville (aged 52). He was nephew of Dabney Carr and grand-nephew of Thomas Jefferson.

Births

• April 2 – Benjamin Tonsler was born into slavery near Earlysville. An influential educator throughout his adult life, Tonsler became a prominent leader in Charlottesville's Black community and served as the namesake of Tonsler Park.