Thomas Beall knew George Washington personally, and his daughter married George Corbin Washington, one of the General’s nephews. Beall had inherited land from his grandfather Ninian Beall (1630-1717), a Scotsman and early founder of the area, and his extensive property became a central portion of Georgetown. Beall became the second mayor of Georgetown in 1791, and he was instrumental in creating the Federal city of Washington D.C. Together with John Mackall Gantt, Beall oversaw the division of city lots during the planning of the capital city.