Henry Cruger
Encyclopedia
Henry Cruger, Jr. was an American
and British
merchant at the time of the American Revolution
. He has a unique distinction of having been elected to both the Parliament of Great Britain
(MP, 1774-1780, 1784-1790) and the New York State Senate
(1792-1796).
Henry Cruger was born in New York
a member of a wealthy merchant family originally from Germany: his grandfather John Cruger
was an alderman and Mayor of New York City
. His uncle John Cruger, Jr.
was also a Mayor of New York City and was Speaker of the New York Assembly. Henry Cruger Sr., his father, was also a member of the New York Provincial Assembly and then the Governor-General's Council.
Cruger studied at King’s College (now Columbia University
) in New York City, but before being graduated he moved to Bristol, England in 1757 where he was placed in a family mercantile house. In 1765 Cruger was elected to the Bristol Common Council, a position he held until 1790. He was named sheriff of the city in 1766–1767. Cruger was elected to Parliament as a radical Whig
in the election of 1774 in which British policy towards the colonies was an important issue. The other Whig candidate, also elected but by a smaller majority was Edmund Burke
, who was, among other things, the provincial agent for the Province of New York.
In his maiden speech before Parliament, Cruger criticized it for worsening the breach between Britain and her colonies. In 1776, he faulted the ministry for abandoning British sympathizers in the colony of New York. In 1777, he supported the repeal of the Declaratory Act
(1766), and by 1780, he favored American independence. Defeated for reelection in 1780, he became Bristol’s mayor in 1781. In 1784, Cruger was returned to Parliament as a supporter of William Pitt the Younger
. Throughout his political career in England he urged conciliation with America.
In 1789 he sought in vain for a consular appointment in the United States from Pitt. He returned to New York in 1790 after an absence of 33 years and was elected as a Federalist
to the New York State Senate in 1792, urging conciliation with Great Britain while serving an otherwise undistinguished single four-year term.
Cruger was married three times, firstly in 1765 with a daughter of Samuel Peach of Tockington
a wealthy linen draper and banker [some sources name her as Cristina, some say Ellin, some say Hannah]. Regardless, she died in 1767, leaving a son Samuel Peach Cruger, who changed his name to Samuel Peach Peach by 1788 after inheriting his grandfather Samuel's fortune. Cruger had a daughter with his second wife, Elizabeth Blair. Elizabeth died soon after his return to New York in 1790. He married his third wife, Caroline Smith, when he was age 60 and with whom he fathered four more children. He died at home in New York City in his 88th year.
Cruger's house in Park Street, Bristol
, on the corner of Great George Street, is marked by a commemorative plaque.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
merchant at the time of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He has a unique distinction of having been elected to both the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
(MP, 1774-1780, 1784-1790) and the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
(1792-1796).
Henry Cruger was born in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
a member of a wealthy merchant family originally from Germany: his grandfather John Cruger
John Cruger
John Cruger was an immigrant to colonial New York with an uncertain place of birth, but his family was originally Danish. In New York from at least 1696, he became a prosperous merchant and established a successful family as well...
was an alderman and Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
. His uncle John Cruger, Jr.
John Cruger, Jr.
John Cruger, Jr. was the speaker of the Province of New York assembly and the Mayor of New York City.He was born July 18, 1710 the son of John Cruger and Maria Cuyler....
was also a Mayor of New York City and was Speaker of the New York Assembly. Henry Cruger Sr., his father, was also a member of the New York Provincial Assembly and then the Governor-General's Council.
Cruger studied at King’s College (now Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
) in New York City, but before being graduated he moved to Bristol, England in 1757 where he was placed in a family mercantile house. In 1765 Cruger was elected to the Bristol Common Council, a position he held until 1790. He was named sheriff of the city in 1766–1767. Cruger was elected to Parliament as a radical Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
in the election of 1774 in which British policy towards the colonies was an important issue. The other Whig candidate, also elected but by a smaller majority was Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke
Edmund Burke PC was an Irish statesman, author, orator, political theorist and philosopher who, after moving to England, served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party....
, who was, among other things, the provincial agent for the Province of New York.
In his maiden speech before Parliament, Cruger criticized it for worsening the breach between Britain and her colonies. In 1776, he faulted the ministry for abandoning British sympathizers in the colony of New York. In 1777, he supported the repeal of the Declaratory Act
Declaratory Act
The Declaratory Act was a declaration by the British Parliament in 1766 which accompanied the repeal of the Stamp Act 1765. The government repealed the Stamp Act because boycotts were hurting British trade and used the declaration to justify the repeal and save face...
(1766), and by 1780, he favored American independence. Defeated for reelection in 1780, he became Bristol’s mayor in 1781. In 1784, Cruger was returned to Parliament as a supporter of William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. Throughout his political career in England he urged conciliation with America.
In 1789 he sought in vain for a consular appointment in the United States from Pitt. He returned to New York in 1790 after an absence of 33 years and was elected as a Federalist
Federalist
The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of federalism or the type of government called a federation...
to the New York State Senate in 1792, urging conciliation with Great Britain while serving an otherwise undistinguished single four-year term.
Cruger was married three times, firstly in 1765 with a daughter of Samuel Peach of Tockington
Tockington
Tockington is a village in South Gloucestershire, England. Historically the village developed around farming based mainly on the rearing of cattle on the fertile flood plains. In more recent times Tockington has become an attractive location for commuters, being situated within the Green Belt and...
a wealthy linen draper and banker [some sources name her as Cristina, some say Ellin, some say Hannah]. Regardless, she died in 1767, leaving a son Samuel Peach Cruger, who changed his name to Samuel Peach Peach by 1788 after inheriting his grandfather Samuel's fortune. Cruger had a daughter with his second wife, Elizabeth Blair. Elizabeth died soon after his return to New York in 1790. He married his third wife, Caroline Smith, when he was age 60 and with whom he fathered four more children. He died at home in New York City in his 88th year.
Cruger's house in Park Street, Bristol
Park Street, Bristol
Park Street is a main street in Bristol, England, linking the city centre to Clifton. It forms part of the A4018.The building of Park Street started in 1761 and it was Bristol's earliest example of uniformly stepped hillside terracing. The street runs from College Green up a steep incline...
, on the corner of Great George Street, is marked by a commemorative plaque.