William Peter Van Ness
Encyclopedia
William Peter Van Ness was a United States federal judge
.
, Van Ness was the son of Judge Peter Van Ness (1734-1804). Peter Van Ness was a wealthy lawyer and farmer, and was the owner of the property on which William P. Van Ness constructed a mansion in 1797. The home and land were later purchased by Martin Van Buren
, who renamed the estate Lindenwald. Peter Van Ness is buried on the Lindenwald estate.
William Van Ness's brothers included U.S. Representative and Washington, D.C.
Mayor John Peter Van Ness
and Vermont
Governor Cornelius Peter Van Ness
.
William Van Ness attended Washington Seminary and graduated from Columbia College in 1797.
After graduating from college William Van Ness read law in the office of Edward Livingston
, attaining acceptance to the bar
in 1800.
, Albany
, and Hudson
from 1800 to 1812.
Van Ness, a friend of Aaron Burr
, was an active participant in the 1800 presidential campaign as a vocal supporter of the Democratic-Republican candidates, Thomas Jefferson
and Aaron Burr.
In 1801 Van Ness served as a Delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention, which was called to amend the state constitution of 1777.
Martin Van Buren completed his legal studies in Van Ness's office in 1802 and became an attorney in Columbia County, New York
.
In July, 1804 William Van Ness served as Aaron Burr's second in Burr's duel
with Alexander Hamilton
, and was present when Burr killed Hamilton.
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of New York. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on May 26, 1812, and received his commission on May 27, 1812. On April 9, 1814, he was reassigned by operation of law
to the newly subdivided United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
.
. He was buried in Brooklyn's
Green-Wood Cemetery
.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Early Life and education
Born in Ghent, New YorkGhent, New York
Ghent is a town in Columbia County, New York, United States, with a ZIP code of 12075. The population was 5,276 at the 2000 census. 2004 estimates put the population at 5,316.The Town of Ghent is centrally located in the county...
, Van Ness was the son of Judge Peter Van Ness (1734-1804). Peter Van Ness was a wealthy lawyer and farmer, and was the owner of the property on which William P. Van Ness constructed a mansion in 1797. The home and land were later purchased by Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
, who renamed the estate Lindenwald. Peter Van Ness is buried on the Lindenwald estate.
William Van Ness's brothers included U.S. Representative and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Mayor John Peter Van Ness
John Peter Van Ness
John Peter Van Ness was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Ghent, New York to an old Dutch family. He completed preparatory studies at Washington Seminary and attended Columbia College in New York City...
and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
Governor Cornelius Peter Van Ness
Cornelius P. Van Ness
Cornelius Peter Van Ness was an American politician of Dutch descent from the US state of Vermont. Van Ness was a Democratic Republican. He is the father of James Van Ness who was a Mayor of San Francisco.-Biography:...
.
William Van Ness attended Washington Seminary and graduated from Columbia College in 1797.
After graduating from college William Van Ness read law in the office of Edward Livingston
Edward Livingston
Edward Livingston was an American jurist and statesman. He was an influential figure in the drafting of the Louisiana Civil Code of 1825, a civil code based largely on the Napoleonic Code. He represented both New York, and later Louisiana in Congress and he served as the U.S...
, attaining acceptance to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1800.
Early Career
William Van Ness practiced law in New York CityNew 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...
, 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 Hudson
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
from 1800 to 1812.
Van Ness, a friend of 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...
, was an active participant in the 1800 presidential campaign as a vocal supporter of the Democratic-Republican candidates, 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.
In 1801 Van Ness served as a Delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention, which was called to amend the state constitution of 1777.
Martin Van Buren completed his legal studies in Van Ness's office in 1802 and became an attorney in Columbia County, New York
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
.
In July, 1804 William Van Ness served as Aaron Burr's second in Burr's duel
Hamilton-Burr duel
The Burr–Hamilton duel was a duel between two prominent American politicians, the former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and sitting Vice President Aaron Burr, on July 11, 1804. At Weehawken in New Jersey, Burr shot and fatally wounded Hamilton. Hamilton was carried to the home of...
with Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
, and was present when Burr killed Hamilton.
Judicial career
On May 25, 1812, Van Ness was nominated by President James MadisonJames Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
to a new seat on the United States District Court for the District of New York. He was confirmed by 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...
on May 26, 1812, and received his commission on May 27, 1812. On April 9, 1814, he was reassigned by operation of law
Operation of law
The phrase "by operation of law" is a legal term that indicates that a right or liability has been created for a party, irrespective of the intent of that party, because it is dictated by existing legal principles. For example, if a person dies without a will, his heirs are determined by operation...
to the newly subdivided United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York is a federal district court. Appeals from the Southern District of New York are taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case...
.
Career as an author
Van Ness was the author of several political and judicial works, including: Examination of Charges against Aaron Burr (1803); The Laws of New York, with Notes, (with John Woodworth), (2 vols. 1813); Reports of Two Cases in the Prize Court for New York District (1814); and Concise Narrative of Gen. Jackson's First Invasion of Florida (1826).Death and burial
Van Ness served on the bench until his death in New York CityNew 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 was buried in Brooklyn's
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, Kings County , New York. It was granted National Historic Landmark status in 2006 by the U.S. Department of the Interior.-History:...
.
External resources
- Find A Grave page, accessed March 5, 2011