The Prout Family

In the very earliest days of the city, William Prout was one of the most conspicuous of our citizens. Besides being one of the original proprietors of the land constituting a large portion of the Navy Yard section, he was a gentleman of high character, and thoroughly identified with the advancement of his section of the city. He was born in 1753, was married to Miss Sarah Slater, of Prince George's County, Maryland, and died in Washington in 1823, leaving three sons--Jonathan, William and Robert, a clergyman, and two daughters, Mrs. Martha H. McKnight and Mrs. Henry Bradley. The dwelling of Mr. Prout is no longer standing. It was near the Eighth Street entrance of the Navy Yard.

William Prout gave the land where the present Christ Church stands. One of 19 landowners who signed the March 31, 1791 agreement to convey land for the federal city.