To write a personal history of General Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe is in effect to write the history of the most important events concerning the growth and improvement of the city of Baltimore for more than half a century. While his family has been a distinguished one, General Latrobe has done much to enhance its importance and memory. His parents were John Hazlehurst Boneval and Charlotte Virginia (Claiborne) Latrobe.

General Latrobe was born in Baltimore, October 14, 1833, and died in the same city, January 13, 1911. Early in his life he cultivated a taste for good reading, making a specialty of historical works. His elementary education was acquired in the schools of Baltimore and the Baltimore City College, from whence he went to St. Timothy's Hall near Catonsville, and then to the college of St. James near Hagerstown, Maryland, which he left during his junior year, in order to engage in commercial business at the request of his father. Having acquired a thorough and practical knowledge of business affairs, he commenced reading law in the office of his father, was admitted to the Baltimore Bar in May, 1859, to the Court of Appeals of Maryland in the following year, and from that time was diligently engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. His father had been engaged as the general counsel of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, almost from its inception until his death, and General Latrobe was appointed assistant counsel.

General Latrobe made his first apearance in the political field as a Democratic candidate for the Maryland Legislature and was elected in 1867. Owing to the absence of the chairman of the committee on ways and means, during the following year, General Latrobe was appointed as acting chairman, was also on the committee of militia, framing the militia law of the State, which was passed at this session and under which the Maryland militia was reorganized.

He was appointed judge advocate-general during the same year by Governor Swann, holding the office for many years, as he was successively reappointed by Governors Groome, McLane, Whyte and Carroll. This constitutes the entire military service of General Latrobe, although he always kept in close touch with the military affairs of his State and Nation. Being again elected to membership in the lower house of the Legislature, in 1869, he was chosen Speaker in the session of 1870. In 1875 he won a victory for the Democratic party by his election to the mayoralty of the city, and was re-elected in 1877-79-83-87-91-93. He was offered the nomination in 1881, but withdrew in favor of William Pinkney Whyte.

His administration of public affairs was characterized by the introduction of many reforms in the municipal government and many improvements in various directions. Some of these improvements are: The establishment of a harbor board through whose agency the inner harbor of the city was deepened and completed; the entire building of the Gunpowder Water Works, by means of which the city is supplied with drinking water, and which was accomplished within the amount appropriated; the sunken gardens around the Union Station, known as Mount Royal Terraces; the erection of the beautiful bridges over the Jones Falls at various streets; the widening of a number of what have through this procedure become important streets; the opening of Mount Royal avenue and the removal of the old Bolton depot; the removal of all the railings around the city parks, which adds greatly to their beauty; the building of Baltimore City College and the Western High School, and of a number of primary and grammar schools; two powerful iceboats were built, the "Latrobe" and the "Annapolis," by means of which the harbor of Baltimore can always be kept open in winter; Eutaw place was extended to Druid Hill Park; the Municipal Art Commission was called into existence; almost the entire storm water sewer system was constructed; Riverside Park was enlarged; the Belt was annexed, and by this means the area of the city was more than doubled; the construction of the new court house was assured by the laws and ordinances which were passed; the North avenue stone bridge, one of the largest structures of its kind in the country, was built; improvements were planned and commenced with regard to the paving of the streets, by which miles of thoroughfare were put in a safer and more sanitary condition. In all of these improvements, and in many more, General Latrobe was invariably the leading spirit, and his unflagging energy kept his co-workers up to the mark.

It is not flattery to say that he was acknowledged to be the most prominent and popular citizen of Baltimore, and in his private as well as in his official capacity did more for the advancement and improvement of the city of Baltimore than any other one man. After the expiration of his last term as mayor, General Latrobe divided his time between his law practice and his duties as president of the Consolidated Gas Company, an office from which he resigned a few weeks prior to his death.

Among other offices he held were: Member of the State Building Commission, which was created by the Legislature of 1900-02, for the erection of the Court of Appeals building at Annapolis, and of additions to the State House; president of the Board of State Aid and Charities, to which office he was appointed by Governor John Walter Smith upon the organization of that body; president of the Board of Commissioners from Maryland for the Industrial Exhibition at Charleston, South Carolina; president of the Board of Commissioners from Maryland for the Industrial Exhibition at Buffalo, New York; became a member of the Public Park Commissioners in 1902, and was elected to the presidency of the board in 1908; member of the Municipal Art Commission of Baltimore, and of the board of trustees of the Maryland Institute, to which he gave much of his personal attention for many years.

In 1899 he was again elected a member of the House of Delegates and served as chairman of the committee on ways and means during the session of 1900; at the extra session of the Legislature in 1901 he was again elected Speaker of the House of Delegates. In Masonic circles he achieved prominence, having been a past master of Fidelity Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons ; member of St. John's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and of Maryland Commandery, Knights Templar. He was also a member of Franklin Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

As an orator he was forceful: as a lawyer, well-read: and as a financier, he displayed ability of no mean order. He was recognized as one of the leaders of thought in Maryland, versed in many subjects foreign to politics, while to his personal friends and intimate acquaintances he was known as a genial philosopher. He was an associate member of the Journalists' Club, vice-president of the Democratic Club, and a charter member of Baltimore Council, National Union.

General Latrobe married (first) in 1860, Louisa, who died in 1865, eldest daughter of Thomas Swann, who filled many public offices, among them being those of mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland. They had one child, Swann, who died in early manhood. He married (second) in 1880, Ellen, daughter of John R. Penrose, of Philadelphia, and widow of Thomas Swann Jr., who was a brother of the first wife of General Latrobe. Children: Ferdinand Claiborne Jr.; Charlotte, married O. Howard Harvey; Ellen Virginia. Mrs. Latrobe had by her first marriage a son, Colonel Sherlock Swann.

At a banquet which was given not many months prior to the death of General Latrobe, he was introduced as "The Grand Old Man of Maryland," and called upon to respond to the toast of "Maryland." He said in part:

A great honor has been bestowed upon me in asking me to respond to the toast "Maryland." Maryland is not the largest State in the Union, but it is the proudest, and has every reason in the world to be proud. In the capital of this State, Annapolis, General George Washington laid down his commission after having won independence for the American colonies. Whenever I go to Annapolis and enter the old senate chamber I feel that I am upon sacred ground.

General Latrobe was always an advocate of the manners and customs of the old school wherever they did not interfere with modern progress, which no one was quicker to recognize that himself. One of the most lovable traits of his character was his filial affection. As long as his mother lived it was his invariable custom to go to her house and breakfast with her in the old-fashioned manner she loved so well.

The extracts which follow are taken from editorials which appeared after the death of General Latrobe, in the papers of Baltimore:

It is difficult to estimate fairly the worth of General Latrobe's services as the chief executive of the city. He served throughout a time when civic spirit, except for spasmodic demonstrations, was dead, and when the politicians held full sway. Taking into consideration the long and arduous task it has been to rescue the city from the grip of the bosses—success finally being brought about by nothing less than a political revolution—recalling what a different kind of a man with General Latrobe's opportunities might have cost the city, it is possible that Baltimore fared better for having somebody of his easy-going temper and disposition at the head of affairs during the era when the boss was at the zenith of his power. It needed peculiar characteristics to go through the fire of corruption which then prevailed without one's own garments being touched. And yet, not even in the fiercest political fight was General Latrobe's personal honor or honesty ever questioned. If he did not constantly warn the public of the evils of partisanship and of bossism, there is little reason to believe that he could have accomplished much had he been never so vigilant and never so prompt to sound the alarm. The truth was that the public got the sort of governor it seemed to desire. There can never be reform until the mass of the people want it so sincerely that they will not be denied. Personally, General Latrobe was universally popular. Indeed, the word is not warm enough to measure the regard in which he was held, and the people of the whole city will regret to learn of his death.

The success of the administrations of General Latrobe was marred by political conditions with which he was unable to contend. This was due, perhaps, to his naturally amiable and kindly disposition. And yet he was never an indolent man, and few could accomplish as much work. He was always employed up to the time of his last illness, and was never known to make the excuse that he had no time to do what was requested of him. General Latrobe was a man of the most genial and generous disposition, and in his official position he exercised great self-restraint and was uniformly patient and courteous. No provocation could make him forget that he was a gentleman. His death will be sincerely mourned by a multitude of his fellow citizens.
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Ferdinand Claiborne Latrobe, lawyer, born in Baltimore, Maryland, 14 October, 1833, was educated at the College of St. James, in Washington county, Maryland

After serving as clerk in mercantile house in Baltimore, he studied law with his father, and was admitted to the bar in 1860. He was elected to the Maryland legislature in 1867, served till 1872, and was speaker in 1870-'2. In 1860 he was appointed judge-advocate-general, and assisted in reorganizing the Maryland militia under the act of 1868, of which he was the author.

In 1875 he was elected mayor of Baltimore, serving three terms till 1881, and in 1883 he was again elected to this office, serving till 1885. During his term of office the supply of water by natural flow from Gunpowder river through a tunnel of seven miles inbred in solid rock was completed.1556
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Ferdinand the eldest son was a businessman and mayor of Baltimore.1619