Joseph C. Yates
Encyclopedia
Joseph Christopher Yates (November 9, 1768 – March 19, 1837) was an American
lawyer, politician. statesman, and founding trustee of Union College
.
, Yates catapulted himself up the ranks of his day, becoming successively the mayor of Schenectady (1798), state senator (1805), state Supreme Court justice (1808), and the seventh governor of New York
(1823–1824).
The home he inhabited in Schenectady while the state's chief executive still exists on Front Street in the city's Stockade District
.
As Governor, Yates sat for a portrait by John Vanderlyn
, famed for his rendition of such eminent historical figures as George Washington
, Aaron Burr
, James Monroe
, George Clinton
, Andrew Jackson
and Zachary Taylor
. The painting is owned by the City of New York.
In the course of his days he took three wives: the first was for love: Ann, widow of James Ellice; the second was for money, Maria, daughter of John Kane; the last was for clout, as he required it to further his ambitious political career, Elizabeth De Lancey, a daughter of John De Lancey, of Westchester County, New York
.
Yates had three children, all daughters: Helen Maria, the oldest, was born on September 28, 1797. She was married to Colonel John K. Paige and died January 25, 1829. Anna Alida was born September 14, 1806, married to John D. Watkins, a resident of Georgia
. Jane Jesepha was born November 6, 1811, married to Samuel Neil of New York.
. In 1889, his daughter Jane reinterred the remains of Joseph Yates and those of several other family members to the Neil family mausoleum in the churchyard of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Bronx County, New York. At present, there are no markers on the Neil family mausoleum to indicate that Gov. Yates is buried there.
In recognition of his contributions to public life in his native state Yates County, New York
and the Town of Yates
are named after Governor Yates.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, politician. statesman, and founding trustee of Union College
Union College
Union College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in 1795, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the 19th century, it became the "Mother of Fraternities", as...
.
History
Born in Schenectady, New YorkSchenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
, Yates catapulted himself up the ranks of his day, becoming successively the mayor of Schenectady (1798), state senator (1805), state Supreme Court justice (1808), and the seventh governor of 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...
(1823–1824).
The home he inhabited in Schenectady while the state's chief executive still exists on Front Street in the city's Stockade District
Stockade Historic District
The Stockade Historic District is located in the northwest corner of Schenectady, New York, United States, on the banks of the Mohawk River. It is the oldest neighborhood in the city, continuously inhabited for over 300 years...
.
As Governor, Yates sat for a portrait by John Vanderlyn
John Vanderlyn
John Vanderlyn was an American neoclassicist painter.-Biography:Vanderlyn was born at Kingston, New York. He was employed by a print-seller in New York, and was first instructed in art by Archibald Robinson , a Scotsman who was afterwards one of the directors of the American Academy of the Fine Arts...
, famed for his rendition of such eminent historical figures as George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing 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...
, James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
, 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...
, Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
and Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
. The painting is owned by the City of New York.
Family
Joseph was born to Christopher "Colonel Stoeffel" Yates and his wife Jannetje Bradt in the autumn of 1768.In the course of his days he took three wives: the first was for love: Ann, widow of James Ellice; the second was for money, Maria, daughter of John Kane; the last was for clout, as he required it to further his ambitious political career, Elizabeth De Lancey, a daughter of John De Lancey, of Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
.
Yates had three children, all daughters: Helen Maria, the oldest, was born on September 28, 1797. She was married to Colonel John K. Paige and died January 25, 1829. Anna Alida was born September 14, 1806, married to John D. Watkins, a resident of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Jane Jesepha was born November 6, 1811, married to Samuel Neil of New York.
Death
Joseph C. Yates died on March 19, 1837 at the age of 69. He was initially buried in a family cemetery in Schenectady County, New YorkSchenectady County, New York
Schenectady County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 154,727. It is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Schenectady. The name is from a Mohawk Indian word meaning "on the other side of the...
. In 1889, his daughter Jane reinterred the remains of Joseph Yates and those of several other family members to the Neil family mausoleum in the churchyard of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Bronx County, New York. At present, there are no markers on the Neil family mausoleum to indicate that Gov. Yates is buried there.
In recognition of his contributions to public life in his native state Yates County, New York
Yates County, New York
Yates County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 25,348. The county seat is Penn Yan. The name is in honor of Joseph C. Yates, who as Governor of New York signed the act establishing the county....
and the Town of Yates
Yates, New York
Yates is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 2,510 at the 2000 census. The town in named after Joseph C. Yates, a governor of New York.The Town of Yates is in the northwest part of the county...
are named after Governor Yates.