Owners and Tenants, 1819-1956

• Decatur
• Hyde de Neuville
• de Tuyll
• Clay
• Van Buren
• Livingston
• Vaughn
• Gadsby
• Dallas
• Gales
• John & James King
• Appleton
• Orr
• Benjamin
• McBlair
• United States Army
• Edward Beale &
  Mary Beale
• Truxtun Beale
• Marie Beale

TIMELINE OF OWNERS AND TENANTS
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George Mifflin Dallas (tenant, 1845-1849)

George Mifflin Dallas, an enthusiast for territorial expansion, lived at Decatur House during his term as Vice President under the administration of James K. Polk. A native of Pennsylvania, Dallas began his career as a lawyer and later served as a United States Senator, Pennsylvania Attorney General and Minister to Russia. In 1844 he was elected Vice President on the Democratic ticket.

The Polk presidency was perhaps characterized by the Mexican War. The United States defeated Mexico in 1846 after a bitter dispute over the acquisition of the newly independent Republic of Texas. As a consequence
the United States gained control over present-day Texas, New Mexico and parts of Upper California. While devastating to Mexico, the United States profited economically from the territorial gain. However, the victory sparked intense social debate over whether the new states should be slave or free, resulting in criticism of Polk and Dallas for provoking the war and creating the slavery disruption.

Despite these political difficulties, Dallas took full advantage of Decatur House’s location and legacy by adhering to the old pattern of social gatherings and parties. Marie Beale, final owner of Decatur House, described the vice president as “a gentleman of the old school, personifying the best traditions of American life.” Nevertheless, according to historian Mark O. Hatfield, Dallas had a somewhat difficult time living in Washington. His wife, Sophia Chew Nicklin, preferred to remain in Philadelphia, the city of her birth. Dallas also suffered financially, and could barely meet the demands of Washington
society and his own extravagant tastes. Hatfield writes that the Vice President "allowed himself one luxury—a stylish African American coachman who wore a distinctive black hat with broad band and steel buckle. Dallas was ill a great deal and complained of digestive disorders and sore feet, which he routinely bathed in hot water augmented with mustard or cayenne pepper.”

When Dallas and Polk failed to secure the Democratic nomination in 1849, Dallas and his family returned to Pennsylvania. He was later appointed
Minister to Britain during the Pierce administration.

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