Thomas Whaley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas Whaley (October 5, 1823–December 14, 1890) early settler of San Diego

Whaley was born in New York City 1823 to Thomas Alexander Whaley Sr. and Rachel Pye. His father died in 1832 and his will said Thomas should receive a liberal education.

Whaley left for California during the gold rush, and ending up working in San Francisco stores. This became successful, but was lost after an arson fire in 1851. He was advised to go to San Diego, so he and Lewis Franklin sailed there in 1851 and opened a store called Tienda California. He studied Spanish so he could sell to the "natives" (Kumeyaay people), whom he exploited both as customers and employees. The next year Franklin sold out to Whaley, and Whaley had a succession of other partners.

Whaley married Anna Eloise DeLaunay in 1853 in New York. She was born March 31, 1832 in New York City to a French family. Their six children were Francis Hilton, Thomas Jr., who died young, Anna Amelia, George Hay Ringgold, Violet Eloise, and Corinne Lillian.

Whaley was appointed President for the San Diego city Board of Trustees (informally called "Mayor") during 1858–1859.

In 1857 Whaley moved into his new house in Old Town. It is the first brick house in San Diego. The bricks were made at Whaley's Old Town kiln and the walls were finished with plaster made from ground seashells. The one-story wing served as the county courthouse during 1869–1870, with upstairs rooms used as San Diego's first commercial theater and meeting rooms for the County Board of Supervisors and record storage. At times, part of downstairs was a store. The Whaley Family lived in the home off and on until 1885, when they moved into a new home in New Town (now Downtown) San Diego. The brick house in Old Town is now a museum, at 2482 San Diego Avenue. The house is thought by some to be haunted.

Whaley died in Old Town San Diego 1890. His wife Anna died February 24, 1913. They are buried at Mount Hope Cemetery.