Solomon Van Rensselaer
Encyclopedia
Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer (August 9, 1774 - April 23, 1852) was a United States Representative from the state of New York
, a lieutenant colonel
during the War of 1812
, and postmaster
of Albany
. He was the son of Gen. Henry Killian Van Rensselaer, who distinguished himself during the Revolutionary War's Battle of Fort Anne during the Saratoga campaign
, and Alida Bratt, who named her son after her grandfather Solomon Van Vechten.
Solomon Van Rensselaer was born in East Greenbush, New York, where he completed preparatory studies. He entered the United States Army
, was promoted to captain of a volunteer company, and then to major
on January 8, 1799, and mustered out in June 1800. He was an adjutant general
of the state militia
in 1801, 1810, and 1813; and served in the War of 1812 as lieutenant colonel of the New York Volunteers
.
He was elected as a Federalist to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth United States Congresses, and served from March 4, 1819 to January 14, 1822, when he resigned. He was postmaster of Albany, New York
from 1822 to 1839, and from 1841 to 1843 and a delegate from New York at the opening of the Erie Canal
on November 4, 1825.
He died near Albany, aged 77. He was interred in the North Dutch Church Cemetery, in Albany, and reinterred in Albany Rural Cemetery
. His home at Albany, Cherry Hill
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1971.
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...
, a lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
during 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 postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. He was the son of Gen. Henry Killian Van Rensselaer, who distinguished himself during the Revolutionary War's Battle of Fort Anne during the Saratoga campaign
Saratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
, and Alida Bratt, who named her son after her grandfather Solomon Van Vechten.
Solomon Van Rensselaer was born in East Greenbush, New York, where he completed preparatory studies. He entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, was promoted to captain of a volunteer company, and then to major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
on January 8, 1799, and mustered out in June 1800. He was an adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
of the state militia
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
in 1801, 1810, and 1813; and served in the War of 1812 as lieutenant colonel of the New York Volunteers
New York Volunteers
The New York Volunteers was a American Loyalist provincial regiment which was served in the British Army during American War of Independence.It was raised in Halifax, January 1776. Two companies were in the 1776 New York campaign. It was at the raids on Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery...
.
He was elected as a Federalist to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth United States Congresses, and served from March 4, 1819 to January 14, 1822, when he resigned. He was postmaster of Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
from 1822 to 1839, and from 1841 to 1843 and a delegate from New York at the opening of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
on November 4, 1825.
He died near Albany, aged 77. He was interred in the North Dutch Church Cemetery, in Albany, and reinterred in Albany Rural Cemetery
Albany Rural Cemetery
The Albany Rural Cemetery was established October 7, 1844, in Menands, New York, just outside of the city of Albany, New York. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful, pastoral cemeteries in the United States, at over . Many historical American figures are buried there.-History:On April 2,...
. His home at Albany, Cherry Hill
Cherry Hill (Albany, New York)
Cherry Hill, also known as Historic Cherry Hill, is a historic home and museum located at Albany, Albany County, New York. It was built in 1768 and is a -story, rectangular wood-frame dwelling sheathed in clapboard. It features a gambrel roof with dormers and wooden porches with turned...
, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1971.