Thomas Law Thomas Law was a wealthy Englishman who invested financially and ideologically in the development of the new city of Washington. In 1804 he wrote a pamphlet, published anonymously, proposing a canal from the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/424">Anacostia River to the Potomac</a> following <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/40">Goose Creek</a>, which he thought would encourage trade in the city. He was one of the incorporators of the <a href="http://mallhistory.org/items/show/41">Washington Canal</a> Company. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Thomas+Law">Thomas Law</a> Papers of George Washington. <a href="http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/george-washington-to-thomas-law/">View original image</a>. <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Pre-1800s">Pre-1800s</a> <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1800-1829">1800-1829</a>