William Osborne

William Osborne began working at George Washington’s second presidential residence in New York around July 1790 and in November 1790 went to work at the President’s House in Philadelphia. He served as President Washington’s valet, replacing long-term valet William Lee. In this role he dressed the president, traveled with the president, ran errands, and delivered notes and documents. He earned an annual salary of £140.¹ In August 1793, William wrote a letter to the president indicating that he planned to leave his position to open a tavern in Philadelphia and asked Washington for a “loan of a sum not Exceeding 200 Dollars, which I will refund with Gratitude."² Washington granted him a loan of $100. However, just a few weeks later, William died during a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. In June 1794, his widow wrote to Washington to ask for her husband’s possessions. According to her, Washington’s steward, Samuel Fraunces, would not return items to her because Osborne had owed him a debt and accused her of stealing: “About two weeks ago I asked Mr. Fraunces for my husbands Kneebuckles again, but was called by him Theif, Rogue, and other such names, as are not Sir, proper to mention.”3 No additional correspondence from Washington has been discovered. 

Information about William Osborne’s life outside of the President’s House has not been identified.