Charles D. Cooper
Encyclopedia
Charles DeKay Cooper was an American physician, lawyer and Democratic-Republican politician.
and became a physician, like his father. By 1791, Cooper had settled in Albany. In 1792 he began to practice medicine.
He married Margaret Vernor (ca. 1774-1860), the adopted daughter of the future Lt. Gov.
John Tayler
. They had five children, among them Major-General John Tayler Cooper (1798-1878, a lawyer who married a daughter of John Vernon Henry
), and Reverend Charles DeKay Cooper (1813-1902), who married Cornelia Lansing Sutherland, a grand-daughter of Chancellor John Lansing, Jr.
In 1794, he was appointed Health Officer of the Port of Albany
In February 1804, Cooper attended a dinner party during which Alexander Hamilton
spoke forcefully and eloquently against the Federalists' plan to nominate Aaron Burr
as their candidate for Governor of New York
. Cooper later wrote a letter to Philip Schuyler
, Alexander Hamilton's father-in-law, in which he made reference to the "despicable opinion" Hamilton had expressed about Burr. The letter was published in the Albany Register, but was tame compared to other attacks on Burr in the press. Still, Cooper's letter proved the last straw in the ongoing rivalry between Burr and Hamilton. When Burr read the letter weeks later, shortly after his defeat in the governor's race, he was enraged by Hamilton's alleged remarks, and challenged Hamilton to a duel in which Hamilton was killed.
From March 1806 to June 1807, Cooper was First Judge of the Albany County Court. From 1815 to 1816, he was a member of the Erie Canal Commission
. In April 1817, while his father-in-law was Acting Governor, Cooper was appointed Secretary of State of New York
.
He was buried in the Dutch Church Cemetery at Albany.
Life
He was the son of Dr. Ananias Cooper and Elizabeth DeKay Cooper. He studied medicine with Dr. Crosby 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...
and became a physician, like his father. By 1791, Cooper had settled in Albany. In 1792 he began to practice medicine.
He married Margaret Vernor (ca. 1774-1860), the adopted daughter of the future Lt. Gov.
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...
John Tayler
John Tayler
John Tayler was a merchant and politician. He served nine years as Lieutenant Governor of New York, four months as Acting Governor of New York, and also in both houses of the New York State Legislature.-Life:...
. They had five children, among them Major-General John Tayler Cooper (1798-1878, a lawyer who married a daughter of John Vernon Henry
John Vernon Henry
John Vernon Henry was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was admitted to the bar in 1782. He was a Federalist member from Albany County of the New York State Assembly from 1800 to 1802. He was New York State Comptroller from 1800 to 1801...
), and Reverend Charles DeKay Cooper (1813-1902), who married Cornelia Lansing Sutherland, a grand-daughter of Chancellor John Lansing, Jr.
John Lansing, Jr.
John Ten Eyck Lansing, Jr. , was an American lawyer and politician. He was the uncle of Gerrit Y. Lansing.-Career:...
In 1794, he was appointed Health Officer of the Port of Albany
In February 1804, Cooper attended a dinner party during which 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...
spoke forcefully and eloquently against the Federalists' plan to nominate 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...
as their candidate for Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
. Cooper later wrote a letter to Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
, Alexander Hamilton's father-in-law, in which he made reference to the "despicable opinion" Hamilton had expressed about Burr. The letter was published in the Albany Register, but was tame compared to other attacks on Burr in the press. Still, Cooper's letter proved the last straw in the ongoing rivalry between Burr and Hamilton. When Burr read the letter weeks later, shortly after his defeat in the governor's race, he was enraged by Hamilton's alleged remarks, and challenged Hamilton to a duel in which Hamilton was killed.
From March 1806 to June 1807, Cooper was First Judge of the Albany County Court. From 1815 to 1816, he was a member of the Erie Canal Commission
Erie Canal Commission
The New York State Legislature appointed in 1810 a Commission to Explore a Route for a Canal to Lake Erie, and Report which became known as the Erie Canal Commission...
. In April 1817, while his father-in-law was Acting Governor, Cooper was appointed Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
.
He was buried in the Dutch Church Cemetery at Albany.
Sources
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/cooper.html Political Graveyard
- http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/peopleevents/pande15.html About his letter to P. Schuyler, at PBS
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E0DE3DE1F3BE733A25750C1A9669D946397D6CF Obit of his son, spelling erroneously the name of Gov. John Tayler and confusing the names of the governor and Charles Cooper's brother John Tayler Cooper, in NYT on October 13, 1902
- http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/c/chcooper462.html Bio at NYSM
- http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nysource/mmm/manu03.htm Short bio, at Rootsweb
- http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/v/mgtvernor2093.html Bio of Margaret Vernor, at NYSM
- Report submitted by the Canal Commission on March 8, 1816, to the State Assembly, signed by Cooper, in Niles Weekly Register (Vol. 10, March 1816, page 101)
- Cooper genealogy in A History of the County of Westchester, from Its First Settlement to the Present Time by Robert Bolton (Alexander S. Gould, 1848, Vol. 2, page 511)
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (page 358; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- http://www.history.rochester.edu/canal/bib/whitford/old1906/vol2/chapter2.htm List of canal commissioners
- Death date from The Annals of Albany Vol. VI, by Joel Munsell (re-published by BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2008, ISBN 0559282036 , ISBN 9780559282034 , page 142) {The burial ground inscription says "...in the 60th year of his age." but all sources give 1769 as birth year, which means he died in his 62nd year.]