Stephen Lush
Encyclopedia
Stephen Lush was an American politician and lawyer from New York
, and an officer during the American Revolutionary War
.
Lush was born in New York City
. He attended King's College, earning a bachelor of arts in 1770 and a masters degree in 1773. He was admitted to the bar in 1774, at the age of twenty-one, and moved to Albany
to practice law and live with his brother, Richard.
After the start of the American Revolutionary War
, he was elected to the Albany Committee of Correspondence
in 1776. He served as a captain in the New York Volunteers
in 1776, and then joined the Fifth New Jersey Regiment
under Colonel Oliver Spencer, serving as acting judge advocate general in 1777. He attained the rank of major, and served as the aide-de-camp
of General George Clinton
. Clinton commanded Fort Montgomery, on the Hudson River
; when the fort was taken by the British on October 6, 1777
, Lush was captured. He was held prisoner for nearly a year, when he was used as bait in a proposed exchange of three prisoners; Clinton agreed without hesitation, unaware that one of the other American prisoners was actually a valuable British spy. After his release in 1778, Lush was appointed Clerk of the New York Court of Chancery
.
After the war, he moved to Albany
and started a successful legal practice. He was elected to the New York Assembly in 1792 and 1793, and then to the New York Senate in 1800, representing the eastern senate district until 1803. He was elected again to the Assembly four more times, 1803 to 1806. Lush owned slaves as late as 1819; at one time, he had five in his house.
He married Lydia Stringer (d. 1841) in 1781; she was the daughter of prominent physician Samuel Stringer. They had seven children: Samuel (1782, died in infancy), Samuel Stringer (1783–1841), William (1785–1846), Mary, Rachel, Gertrude (c. 1797–1874), Richard (1798–1828). His son Samuel S. Lush
also became a lawyer and a member of the New York Assembly. Gertrude married Robert James, the son of William James of Albany, one of the wealthiest people in the United States in the early 19th century.
Stephen Lush is buried in Albany Rural Cemetery
.
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 an officer 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...
.
Lush 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...
. He attended King's College, earning a bachelor of arts in 1770 and a masters degree in 1773. He was admitted to the bar in 1774, at the age of twenty-one, and moved to Albany
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...
to practice law and live with his brother, Richard.
After the start of 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 elected to the Albany Committee of Correspondence
Committee of correspondence
The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain and shared their plans; by 1773 they had emerged as shadow governments, superseding the colonial legislature...
in 1776. He served as a captain in the New York Volunteers
New York Volunteers
The New York Volunteers was a American Loyalist provincial regiment which was served in the British Army during American War of Independence.It was raised in Halifax, January 1776. Two companies were in the 1776 New York campaign. It was at the raids on Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery...
in 1776, and then joined the Fifth New Jersey Regiment
New Jersey Line
The New Jersey Line was a formation within the Continental Army. The term "New Jersey Line" referred to the quota of numbered infantry regiments assigned to New Jersey at various times by the Continental Congress. These, together with similar contingents from the other twelve states, formed the...
under Colonel Oliver Spencer, serving as acting judge advocate general in 1777. He attained the rank of major, and served as the aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
of General 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...
. Clinton commanded Fort Montgomery, on the Hudson River
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...
; when the fort was taken by the British on October 6, 1777
Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery
The Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery was an American Revolutionary War battle fought in the highlands of the Hudson River valley, not far from West Point, on October 6, 1777. British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton captured Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, and then...
, Lush was captured. He was held prisoner for nearly a year, when he was used as bait in a proposed exchange of three prisoners; Clinton agreed without hesitation, unaware that one of the other American prisoners was actually a valuable British spy. After his release in 1778, Lush was appointed Clerk of the New York Court of Chancery
New York Court of Chancery
The New York Court of Chancery was established during the colonial administration on August 28, 1701, the colonial governor acting as Chancellor. The New York State Constitution of 1777 continued the court but required a lawyer to be appointed Chancellor. It was the court with jurisdiction on cases...
.
After the war, he moved to Albany
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 started a successful legal practice. He was elected to the New York Assembly in 1792 and 1793, and then to the New York Senate in 1800, representing the eastern senate district until 1803. He was elected again to the Assembly four more times, 1803 to 1806. Lush owned slaves as late as 1819; at one time, he had five in his house.
He married Lydia Stringer (d. 1841) in 1781; she was the daughter of prominent physician Samuel Stringer. They had seven children: Samuel (1782, died in infancy), Samuel Stringer (1783–1841), William (1785–1846), Mary, Rachel, Gertrude (c. 1797–1874), Richard (1798–1828). His son Samuel S. Lush
Samuel S. Lush
Samuel Stringer Lush was an American lawyer and politician from Albany, New York.He was the son of Stephen Lush, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War who was also a lawyer and member of the New York Legislature. Samuel Lush graduated from Union College. He served as the district attorney...
also became a lawyer and a member of the New York Assembly. Gertrude married Robert James, the son of William James of Albany, one of the wealthiest people in the United States in the early 19th century.
Stephen Lush is buried in 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,...
.