John Rutherfurd
Encyclopedia
John Rutherfurd was an American politician and land surveyor.
John Rutherfurd was born in New York City
. His parents were Walter and Mary (Alexander) Rutherfurd. Walter was a veteran of the British Army, and was a hostage of Patriots during the Revolutionary War
while John was a teenager. Walter died in 1804. Mary was a sister of William Alexander Lord Stirling. He was also related to Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Baronet
; William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland; Newfoundland Governor John Elliott
; General/Ohio territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair
John attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
) and studied law. He practiced law in New York City
for several years, and then moved to a farm straddling Sussex
and Warren Counties
in New Jersey in 1787. He entered politics, serving in the New Jersey General Assembly
from 1788 to 1790. He was then elected as a Federalist
to the United States Senate
from New Jersey
and served in the Senate from 1791 to 1798. He was reelected in 1796 but resigned in December 1798, for reasons that are unclear.
Rutherfurd then retired from politics, but he was to undertake several important projects during the rest of his life. He laid out the plans for the Manhattan street grid
north of 14th Street
from 1807 to 1811. Around 1816 he investigated the building of a possible canal
connecting the Delaware
, Raritan
and Hudson
rivers. Finally, from 1827 to 1833, he helped settle New Jersey's boundaries with New York
and Pennsylvania
.
In 1808, Rutherfurd moved with his family to a farm on the banks of the Passaic River
near what is now Rutherford, New Jersey
. He lived at this place for the rest of his life, naming it "Edgerston", and died there. Rutherfurd had a large family. He was married to Helena Morris Rutherfurd from 1782 until his death in 1840, and Helena died shortly after him. They had eight children. (Helena was the daughter of Congressman Lewis Morris
).
One of John Rutherfurd's sons, Robert Walter Rutherfurd, was a member of the New Jersey State Legislature. One of Robert's sons, and John's grandson, was the astronomer Lewis Morris Rutherfurd
.
The town of Rutherford, New Jersey
was named at least in part after John Rutherfurd, who had owned much of the land during his life. However, the spelling was changed due to the fame of President Rutherford B. Hayes
who was President of the United States during the 1870s when the town was created.
John Rutherfurd was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. His parents were Walter and Mary (Alexander) Rutherfurd. Walter was a veteran of the British Army, and was a hostage of Patriots during the 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...
while John was a teenager. Walter died in 1804. Mary was a sister of William Alexander Lord Stirling. He was also related to Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Baronet
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto
Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto PC , known as Sir Gilbert Elliott between 1777 and 1797 and as The Lord Minto between 1797 and 1813, was a Scottish politician diplomat....
; William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland; Newfoundland Governor John Elliott
John Elliott (governor)
John Elliot was a Scottish officer of the Royal Navy who served during the Seven Years' War and the American War of Independence. He rose to the rank of Admiral, and served briefly as colonial governor of Newfoundland....
; General/Ohio territorial Governor Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
John attended 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....
) and studied law. He practiced law in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
for several years, and then moved to a farm straddling Sussex
Sussex County, New Jersey
The County of Sussex is the northernmost county in the State of New Jersey. It is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 Federal decennial census, 149,265 persons resided in Sussex County...
and Warren Counties
Warren County, New Jersey
Warren County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 108,692. Its county seat is Belvidere...
in New Jersey in 1787. He entered politics, serving in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from 1788 to 1790. He was then elected as a Federalist
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and served in the Senate from 1791 to 1798. He was reelected in 1796 but resigned in December 1798, for reasons that are unclear.
Rutherfurd then retired from politics, but he was to undertake several important projects during the rest of his life. He laid out the plans for the Manhattan street grid
Commissioners' Plan of 1811
The Commissioners' Plan of 1811 was the original design plan for the streets of Manhattan, which put in place the grid plan that has defined Manhattan to this day....
north of 14th Street
14th Street (Manhattan)
14th Street is a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The street rivals the size of some of the well-known avenues of the city and is an important business location....
from 1807 to 1811. Around 1816 he investigated the building of a possible canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
connecting the Delaware
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
, Raritan
Raritan River
The Raritan River is a major river of central New Jersey in the United States. Its watershed drains much of the mountainous area of the central part of the state, emptying into the Raritan Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.-Description:...
and Hudson
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
rivers. Finally, from 1827 to 1833, he helped settle New Jersey's boundaries with 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...
and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
In 1808, Rutherfurd moved with his family to a farm on the banks of the Passaic River
Passaic River
The Passaic River is a mature surface river, approximately 80 mi long, in northern New Jersey in the United States. The river in its upper course flows in a highly circuitous route, meandering through the swamp lowlands between the ridge hills of rural and suburban northern New Jersey,...
near what is now Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
. He lived at this place for the rest of his life, naming it "Edgerston", and died there. Rutherfurd had a large family. He was married to Helena Morris Rutherfurd from 1782 until his death in 1840, and Helena died shortly after him. They had eight children. (Helena was the daughter of Congressman Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris was an American landowner and developer from Morrisania, New York. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continental Congress for New York....
).
One of John Rutherfurd's sons, Robert Walter Rutherfurd, was a member of the New Jersey State Legislature. One of Robert's sons, and John's grandson, was the astronomer Lewis Morris Rutherfurd
Lewis Morris Rutherfurd
Lewis Morris Rutherfurd was an American lawyer and astronomer, and a pioneering astrophotographer.- Life and work :...
.
The town of Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford, New Jersey
Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....
was named at least in part after John Rutherfurd, who had owned much of the land during his life. However, the spelling was changed due to the fame of President Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
who was President of the United States during the 1870s when the town was created.