John Teunis Bergen was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Gowanus, Brooklyn

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...

, he completed preparatory studies and was appointed a lieutenant in the New York State Militia in 1812, and promoted to captain in 1815. He served in the War of 1812

War of 1812

The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...

 and was sheriff

Sheriff

A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....

 of Kings County from 1821 to 1825 and again from 1828 until 1831, when he resigned. He purchased the Long Island Patriot in 1829, the name of which was subsequently changed to the Brooklyn Advocate, and which ultimately became the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

Bergen was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-second Congress, holding office from March 4, 1831 to March 3, 1833; while in the House he was chairman of the Committee on Accounts. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1832 and engaged in agricultural pursuits near Bay Ridge

Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Bay Ridge is a neighborhood in the southwest corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, USA. It is bounded by Sunset Park on the north, Seventh Avenue and Dyker Heights on the east, The Narrows Strait, which partially houses the Belt Parkway, on the west and 86th Street and Fort Hamilton on...

, New Utrecht (now part of Brooklyn). He moved to Brooklyn and engaged in the grocery business; in 1837, with his sons, he conducted a planing

Planing

Planing may refer to:* Planing or hydroplaning, a method by which a hull skims over the surface of the water* Hydroplaning , a loss of traction caused by a layer of water between the tires and the road surface...

 mill in New York City. He moved to Genesee County

Genesee County, New York

Genesee County is a county located in Western New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,079. Its name is from the Seneca Indian word Gen-nis'-hee-yo meaning "The Beautiful Valley." Its county seat is Batavia.- History :...

 and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Bergen died in Batavia, New York in 1855; interment was in Batavia Cemetery

Batavia Cemetery

Batavia Cemetery is located on Harvester Avenue in Batavia, New York, United States. It opened in 1823 and contains over 8,000 graves, mostly from the 19th century...

.

Bergen's second cousin, Teunis Garret Bergen, was also a U.S. Representative from New York as well as a historian.