Robert Harpur
Encyclopedia
Robert Harpur was an American teacher, politician, pioneer, and landowner who settled in the Binghamton, New York
area.
. He was a teacher of mathematics at Columbia University
(known then as Kings College). One of his prized pupil was Alexander Hamilton
while he studied there in 1774. Harpur served in various capacities in the New York government during the American Revolution
. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
from 1777 to 1784. He was Deputy Secretary of State under John Morin Scott
and Lewis Allaire Scott
from 1778 to 1795. In the spring of 1795 Robert Harpur with his 2nd wife Myra and family moved west along the Susquehanna River
settling near Belden Brook on his Warren Patent which is near present day Harpursville, NY.
in Eastern Broome County, New York
was named after him. Additionally, Harpur College
, now Binghamton University
was also named for him.
, he has been credited with assigning the numerous classical
names to locations in the Central New York Military Tract
, now in Cayuga County
, Cortland County
, Onondaga County
, and Seneca County
. In some cases, it is not entirely clear to which classical person, the name was referring.
The Surveyor General Simeon DeWitt has also been credited with the assignment of these classical names.
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
area.
Life
He came to the colonies in 1761 via ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He was a teacher of mathematics at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
(known then as Kings College). One of his prized pupil was 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...
while he studied there in 1774. Harpur served in various capacities in the New York government 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...
. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1777 to 1784. He was Deputy Secretary of State under John Morin Scott
John Morin Scott
John Morin Scott was a lawyer, military officer, and statesman before, during and after the American Revolution.-Ancestry:...
and Lewis Allaire Scott
Lewis Allaire Scott
-Life:He was the son of John Morin Scott and Helena Rutgers Scott.On January 18, 1785, he married Julianna Sitgreaves , and their son was Mayor of Philadelphia John Morin Scott ....
from 1778 to 1795. In the spring of 1795 Robert Harpur with his 2nd wife Myra and family moved west along the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
settling near Belden Brook on his Warren Patent which is near present day Harpursville, NY.
Legacy
Harpursville, New YorkColesville, New York
Colesville is a town in Broome County, New York, United States. The population was 5,441 at the 2000 census.The Town of Colesville is in the northeast part of the county and is northeast of Binghamton.- History :...
in Eastern Broome County, New York
Broome County, New York
Broome County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 200,600. It was named in honor of John Broome, who was lieutenant governor in 1806 when Broome County was established. Its county seat is Binghamton, which is also its major city. The current...
was named after him. Additionally, Harpur College
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
, now Binghamton University
Binghamton University
Binghamton University, also formally called State University of New York at Binghamton, , is a public research university in the State of New York. The University is one of the four university centers in the State University of New York system...
was also named for him.
Classical names used in New York
While Harpur worked as a Clerk in the office of the New York State Surveyor GeneralNew York State Engineer and Surveyor
The New York State Engineer and Surveyor was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1848 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the Department of Public Works which was...
, he has been credited with assigning the numerous classical
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
names to locations in the Central New York Military Tract
Central New York Military Tract
The Military Tract of Central New York, also called the New Military Tract, consisted of nearly two million acres of bounty land set aside to compensate New York’s soldiers after their participation in the Revolutionary War....
, now in Cayuga County
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
, Cortland County
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...
, Onondaga County
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, and Seneca County
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
. In some cases, it is not entirely clear to which classical person, the name was referring.
The Surveyor General Simeon DeWitt has also been credited with the assignment of these classical names.