Jeremiah Van Rensselaer
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was a Representative
from New York
to the United States Congress
. He was the cousin of Killian K. Van Rensselaer, who was also a Representative (as was Killian K.'s nephew Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer
.
Jeremiah Van Rensselaer was born in New York, the son of John Van Rensselaer (1708–1793) and Engeltie Livingston Van Rensselaer who died before Jeremiah was 10. He was tutor
ed at their manor house "Rensselaerswyck", attended private school in Albany, New York
, and attended college at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
) where he graduated in 1758.
He married Judith Bayard in 1760, but after she died, he married Lena Lansing and in February 1764 and they had one child, Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer.
Rensselaer became a land agent, merchant, and surveyor. In 1766, he was a signer of the constitution of the Albany Sons of Liberty
and became a member of the Albany Committee of Safety
. During the American Revolutionary War
he was commissioned as an ensign in the third regiment of the New York Line where be served as a paymaster.
He was elected to the First United States Congress and served from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1791, but lost his bid for reelection to the Second Congress.
He was member of the New York State Assembly
in 1789. In 1791 he was a member of the first board of directors of the Bank of Albany, and from 1798 through 1806 he was the president of the bank. He was a presidential elector in 1800
, voting for Thomas Jefferson
and Aaron Burr
.
Van Rensselaer was Lieutenant Governor of New York
from 1801 to 1804, under Governor George Clinton
. He was curator of the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary at Albany in 1804.
He died in Albany and was buried in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery, but his body was later moved Albany Rural Cemetery
in Menands, New York
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 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...
to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. He was the cousin of Killian K. Van Rensselaer, who was also a Representative (as was Killian K.'s nephew Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer
Solomon Van Rensselaer
Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer was a United States Representative from the state of New York, a lieutenant colonel during the War of 1812, and postmaster of Albany. He was the son of Gen...
.
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
ed at their manor house "Rensselaerswyck", attended private school in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and attended college at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
) where he graduated in 1758.
He married Judith Bayard in 1760, but after she died, he married Lena Lansing and in February 1764 and they had one child, Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer.
Rensselaer became a land agent, merchant, and surveyor. In 1766, he was a signer of the constitution of the Albany Sons of Liberty
Sons of Liberty
The Sons of Liberty were a political group made up of American patriots that originated in the pre-independence North American British colonies. The group was formed to protect the rights of the colonists from the usurpations by the British government after 1766...
and became a member of the Albany Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety (American Revolution)
Many Committees of Safety were established throughout Colonial America at the start of the American Revolution. These committees started to appear in the 1760s as means to discuss the concerns of the time, and often consisted of every male adult in the community...
. During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
he was commissioned as an ensign in the third regiment of the New York Line where be served as a paymaster.
He was elected to the First United States Congress and served from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1791, but lost his bid for reelection to the Second Congress.
He was member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1789. In 1791 he was a member of the first board of directors of the Bank of Albany, and from 1798 through 1806 he was the president of the bank. He was a presidential elector in 1800
United States presidential election, 1800
In the United States Presidential election of 1800, sometimes referred to as the "Revolution of 1800," Vice-President Thomas Jefferson defeated President John Adams. The election was a realigning election that ushered in a generation of Democratic-Republican Party rule and the eventual demise of...
, voting for Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
.
Van Rensselaer was Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
from 1801 to 1804, under Governor George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
. He was curator of the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary at Albany in 1804.
He died in Albany and was buried in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery, but his body was later moved Albany Rural Cemetery
Albany Rural Cemetery
The Albany Rural Cemetery was established October 7, 1844, in Menands, New York, just outside of the city of Albany, New York. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful, pastoral cemeteries in the United States, at over . Many historical American figures are buried there.-History:On April 2,...
in Menands, New York
Menands, New York
Menands is a village in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 3,990 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Louis Menand...
.