158 Obituary notice of the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer. 



"Father of his Country." His public career commenced in 1789, when 

 he was chosen to the Assembly of this State. He was next in the Sen- 

 ate : and in 1795, at the age of thirty-one, became its presiding officer, in 

 the capacity of Lieutenant Governor ; which station he held for six years. 

 From 1800 to 1820, he was frequently in the Assembly ; was a member 

 of two different state conventions, called to explain and revise the Consti- 

 tution ; and for several years occupied a seat in the Congress of the 

 United States. He was among the earliest and most ardent friends of 

 internal improvements throughout the State. In 1810 he was appointed 

 one of the State Commissioners, and for the last fourteen years of his life 

 was President of the Canal Board. He was at the same time the Chan- 

 cellor of the University of New York, President of the Albany Insti- 

 tute, &c. 



" His military course began in 1787; but he was never employed in 

 active service, except during the last war with Great Britain, when he 

 commanded on the Niagara frontier, with reputation and honor. 



" He was twice married, and leaves his widow and a numerous family 

 to deplore his loss."* 



He was united to the first Dutch Church in Albany, in his 

 twenty-third year, and continued a zealous member until his 

 death. 



In Gen. Yan Rensselaer, we have a remarkable case of a man 

 of great weight of character, continually acting a conspicuous 

 part, where conflicting interests were often at his disposal, but who 

 never had an enemy ; and whose name the tongue of slander 

 never assailed. Still he was always decided in his politics, from 

 the revolution to his death. Washington, Hamilton, Jay, C. C. 

 Pinkney, &c., were among his personal friends; and although he 

 outlived them, he never could outlive their principles. His mu- 

 nificent daeds of benevolence are found on the printed pages of 

 almost every leading religious and scientific journal in our coun- 

 try. Every important public improvement, exhibits evidences 

 of his generous zeal. But the strongest marks of his own pecu- 

 liar characteristic views, are found among his efforts to benefit 

 the common laboring classes. Through his munificence, those 



* " His first vpife was the daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler of revolutionary 

 memory. Of this marriage, one son (the present Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer) 

 remains. His second wife is the daughter of the Hon. Wni. Patterson, late Gov- 

 ernor of New Jersey, and at the time of his decease, one of the Judges of the 

 Supreme Court of the United States. Her nine children (six sons and three 

 daughters) survive their father." 



