Philip Van Cortlandt

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Philip Van Cortlandt

Philip Van Cortlandt (August 21, 1749 – November 21, 1831) was an American surveyor, landowner, and politician from Westchester County, New York. Van Cortlandt was the son of Pierre Van Cortlandt and brother of Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr. He was a Continental Army officer during the American Revolution, and later served several terms in the United States House of Representatives.

Early life

He was born in New York City on August 21, 1749, and was a member of one of New York's most prominent families. His great-grandfather was Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the first native-born Mayor of New York City, and his family were the patroons of Van Cortlandt Manor.[1][2]

Philip Van Cortlandt attended Coldenham Academy. In addition to exercising manorial rights while assisting in the management of the manor's farming and manufacturing activities, Philip Van Cortlandt was a civil engineer, and became active in politics as a founding member of the New York Provincial Congress in 1775.[3]

American Revolution

During the Revolutionary War, Van Cortlandt commanded the 2nd New York Regiment in the Continental Army. He fought at the Battle of Saratoga, was with the Army at Valley Forge, and took part in the Sullivan Expedition.

During 1779 he led troops during the campaign against American Indians in western New York. In 1779 and 1780 he was a member of the court martial that charged Benedict Arnold for improper conduct while in command of Philadelphia. A majority of members, including Van Cortlandt, favored dismissing Arnold from the service, but they were overruled and Arnold received only a written reprimand.[4]

Van Cortlandt was commended for gallantry at the Siege of Yorktown, and mustered out of the service at the end of the war with the rank of Brigadier General.[5]

In 1783 Van Cortlandt was one of 35 officers who created the Society of the Cincinnati. He was an organizer of the New York Society of the Cincinnati, served on the committee creating its bylaws, and served as Treasurer from 1783 to 1788.[6]

Later career

Van Cortlandt served in local office, including town supervisor of Cortlandt, member of the town school board, and town road commissioner.

In 1788 Van Cortlandt was a member of the state convention which ratified the United States Constitution, and worked for its approval.[7] He served in the New York State Assembly from 1788 to 1790, and the New York State Senate from 1791 to 1793.[8]

In 1792 Van Cortlandt was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democratic-Republican, and he served eight terms, 1793 to 1809.[9][10]

Van Cortlandt accompanied Lafayette on Lafayette's 1824 Tour of the United States.[11]

Death and burial

He died at Cortlandt Manor on November 21, 1831 and was buried in Hillside Cemetery, Cortlandt Manor, New York.[12][13]

References

  1. Silas Constant, Emily Warren Roebling, The Journal of the Reverend Silas Constant, 1903, pages 429–430
  2. Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, Mrs. Burton Harrison, History of the City of New York, 1896, pages 407–408
  3. John Thomas Scharf, editor, History of Westchester County: New York, Volume 1, Part 1, 1886, page 318
  4. Robert Bolton, Oliver Rivington Willis, The History of the Several Towns, Manors, and Patents of the County of Westchester, Volume 1, 1881, page 111
  5. Doris Devine Fanelli, History of the Portrait Collection, Independence National Historical Park, Volume 242, 2001, page 309
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Alden Chester, Edwin Melvin Williams, Courts and Lawyers of New York: A History, 1609–1925, Volume 1, 1925, page 269
  8. Weed, Parsons & Co., The New York Civil List, 1861, pages 171, 380
  9. Wed, Parsons & Co., New York Civil List, 1879, page 342
  10. Benjamin Perley Poore, The Political Register and Congressional Directory, 1878, page 674
  11. Harper & Brothers, Harper's encyclopœdia of United States history from 458 A.D. to 1905, Volume 10, 1905, page 24
  12. Thomas William Herringshaw, Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography, 1914, page 531
  13. Atlantic Observer, The Knickerbocker: The Magazine of the Low Countries, Volume 3, 1943, page 20

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 3rd congressional district

1793–1803
Succeeded by
Samuel Latham Mitchill
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 4th congressional district

1803–1809
Succeeded by
James Emott