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Van Rensselaer, Stephen 1765-1839

Last of the patroons; born in New York, Nov. 1, 1765; son of Nicholas Van Rensselaer; married a daughter of Gen. Philip

Stephen Van Rensselaer.

Schuyler in 1783. In 1789 he was a member of the legislature, and State Senator from 1790 to 1795. From 1795 to 1801 he was lieutenant-governor. He presided over the constitutional convention in 1801, and in 1810-11 was one of the commissioners to ascertain the feasibility of a canal to connect the waters of the lakes with the Hudson. From 1816 until his death he was one of the canal commissioners, and for fifteen years president of the board. In 1801 he commanded the State cavalry, with the rank of major-general; and when the War of 1812-15 broke out was chief of the New York State militia. In 1819 he was elected a regent of the State University, and afterwards its chancellor. In 1820 he was president of the State agricultural board, a member of the constitutional convention in 1821, and of Congress from 1823 to 1829. At his expense, and under his direction, a geological survey of New York was made in 1821-23. In 1824 he established at Troy, N. Y., a scientific school for the instruction of teachers, which was incorporated in 1826 as the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He died in Albany, Jan. 26, 1839.

Harper and Brothers Publishers. . New York. 1902.

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