Schuyler, Peter 1710-1762
Military officer; born in New Jersey in 1710. He early became interested in military affairs; was commissioned colonel in 1746 and commanded a regiment which became known as the “Jersey Blues” ; was assigned to Fort Clinton at Saratoga and left it only when compelled to do so by lack of provisions. In 1754 when the war with France began a second time he was stationed at Oswego with his regiment, one-half of which, including himself, was later captured. Subsequently he served with his regiment in the conquest of Canada. He died in Newark, N. J., March 7, 1762.
Military officer; born in Albany, N. Y., Sept. 17, 1657; second son of Philip Pietersen Van Schuyler, the first of the name in America; entered public life when quite young, and enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens. When, in 1686, Albany was incorporated a city, young Schuyler and Robert Livingston went to New York for the charter, and Schuyler was appointed the first mayor under it, which office he held eight years. In 1688 he was appointed major of the militia, and towards the close of the following year he was put in command of the fort at Albany. It was at about that time that Milborne attempted to take possession of the fort. He was successfully resisted by Schuyler and some Mohawk Indians. In 1691 Schuyler led an expedition that penetrated to La Prairie, near Montreal. After several skirmishes, in which he lost nineteen white men and Indians, and killed about 200 Frenchmen and Indians, he returned to Albany. He was a member of the New York Assembly from 1701 until 1713. In 1710 he went to England with five chiefs of the Five Nations, at his own expense, for the purpose of impressing them with the greatness of the English nation, and so detaching them from the French; and to arouse the government to the necessity of assisting the Americans in expelling the French from Canada, then becoming more hostile and powerful every day. After the accession of George I. (1714) he became a member of the King's council in New York. At one time he was its president, and in 1719 was acting governor. He also was
Peter Schuyler. |