Pierre Van Cortlandt
Encyclopedia
Pierre Van Cortlandt was the first Lieutenant Governor
of the State of New York
.
He was born in New York, the son of Philip Van Cortlandt (1683 -1748) (a son of New York Mayor Stephanus Van Cortlandt
) and Catherine DePeyster (a granddaughter of Johannes De Peyster— an ancestor of Abraham DePeyster and Arent Schuyler DePeyster). A great uncle Jacobus Van Cortlandt
was mayor of New York City
.
Van Cortlandt served briefly in the colonial forces during the American Revolution
in spite of efforts by British officials to ensure his loyalty to Great Britain
.
Van Cortlandt was Vice President of the 4th New York Provincial Congress
which convened as the New York State Constitutional Convention from 1776 to 1777. He lost the election as Lieutenant Governor of New York
to George Clinton
who was elected both Governor and Lt. Gov. in June 1777
, but formally resigned the office of Lt. Gov. when he took office as Governor. Van Cortlandt was elected to the New York State Senate
in 1777 and was elected Temporary President of the State Senate, and thus was Acting Lt. Governor. In 1778, Van Cortlandt was elected Lt. Gov. to fill the vacancy, and took office on June 30, 1778. He was re-elected five times, remaining in office until 1795.
His eldest son, Philip Van Cortlandt
, was a Continental Army General and New York Congressman.
The first wife of his second son (also named Pierre Van Cortlandt
) was Catherine daughter of New York Governor and Continental General George Clinton
. A brother George Washington Clinton was also a son-in-law to New York Congressman William Floyd
. Another sister of Catherine Clinton named Maria was married to Dr. Stephen D. Beekman-a grandson of Pierre Van Cortlandt and Joanna Livingston. A cousin of Catherine was George Clinton
a New York Congressman
Cortland County, New York
, Cortland, New York
, Cortlandt, New York
, and Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School are named after him.
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of the State 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...
.
He was born in New York, the son of Philip Van Cortlandt (1683 -1748) (a son of New York Mayor Stephanus Van Cortlandt
Stephanus Van Cortlandt
Stephanus van Cortlandt was the first native-born mayor of New York City, a position which he held from 1677 to 1678 and from 1686 to 1688. He was the patroon of Van Cortlandt Manor and was on the governor's executive council from 1691 to 1700. His brother, Jacobus Van Cortlandt also served as...
) and Catherine DePeyster (a granddaughter of Johannes De Peyster— an ancestor of Abraham DePeyster and Arent Schuyler DePeyster). A great uncle Jacobus Van Cortlandt
Jacobus Van Cortlandt
Jacobus Van Cortlandt was a merchant and Mayor of New York from 1710 to 1711 and again from 1719 to 1720.He was born in 1658.Van Cortlandt purchased a parcel of land in what is now Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, New York, from John Barrett, after his father, Samuel Barrett, died around 1691. At that...
was mayor of 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...
.
Van Cortlandt served briefly in the colonial forces during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
in spite of efforts by British officials to ensure his loyalty to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
Van Cortlandt was Vice President of the 4th New York Provincial Congress
New York Provincial Congress
The New York Provincial Congress was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred.A Provincial Convention assembled in New York...
which convened as the New York State Constitutional Convention from 1776 to 1777. He lost the election as Lieutenant Governor of New York
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...
to 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...
who was elected both Governor and Lt. Gov. in June 1777
New York gubernatorial election, 1777
The 1777 New York gubernatorial election was held in June 1777 to elect the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor.-History:The election began on June 1, but due to the American Revolution it took some time to collect and count the votes, and the official result was announced on July 9...
, but formally resigned the office of Lt. Gov. when he took office as Governor. Van Cortlandt was elected to the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
in 1777 and was elected Temporary President of the State Senate, and thus was Acting Lt. Governor. In 1778, Van Cortlandt was elected Lt. Gov. to fill the vacancy, and took office on June 30, 1778. He was re-elected five times, remaining in office until 1795.
Family
Van Cortlandt was married to Joanna, daughter of Gilbert Livingston. He died in New York City.His eldest son, Philip Van Cortlandt
Philip Van Cortlandt
Philip Van Cortlandt was an American surveyor, landowner, and politician from Westchester County, New York.During the Revolutionary War, Colonel Cortlandt commanded the 2nd New York Regiment in the Continental Army...
, was a Continental Army General and New York Congressman.
The first wife of his second son (also named Pierre Van Cortlandt
Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr.
Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr. was a United States Representative from New York. A member of New York's Van Cortlandt family, he was the son of Pierre Van Cortlandt, an early New York political figure, and brother of Philip Van Cortlandt, who was also a U.S. Representative from New York...
) was Catherine daughter of New York Governor and Continental 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...
. A brother George Washington Clinton was also a son-in-law to New York Congressman William Floyd
William Floyd
William Floyd was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:...
. Another sister of Catherine Clinton named Maria was married to Dr. Stephen D. Beekman-a grandson of Pierre Van Cortlandt and Joanna Livingston. A cousin of Catherine was George Clinton
George Clinton (congressman)
George Clinton was a Democratic-Republican Representative from New York to the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth United States Congress....
a New York Congressman
Legacy
Van Cortlandt Upper Manor HouseVan Cortlandt Upper Manor House
Van Cortlandt Upper Manor House is a historic home located at Peekskill, Westchester County, New York. The original house was built about 1773 and subsequently enlarged and altered a number of times. The original structure is a -story, five-bay brick house, altered by the Van Cortlandt family in...
Cortland County, New York
Cortland County, New York
Cortland County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, named after Federico Van Cortlandt, president of the convention at Kingston that wrote the first New York State Constitution in 1777, and first lieutenant governor of the state. The county seat is Cortland...
, Cortland, New York
Cortland, New York
Cortland is a city in Cortland County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 18,740. It is the county seat of Cortland County.The City of Cortland, near the west border of the county, is surrounded by the Town of Cortlandville....
, Cortlandt, New York
Cortlandt, New York
Cortlandt is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census.The Town of Cortlandt is in the northwest part of the county...
, and Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School are named after him.