Description:

DeWitt Clinton
Albany, NY, July 8, 1819
Governor DeWitt Clinton Appoints Van Rensselaer as Colonel in the Militia
Partially printed DS

DEWITT CLINTON, Partially Printed Document Signed, Appointment of Stephen Van Rensselaer Jr. as colonel of 136th New York Infantry, July 8, 1819, Albany, New York. 1 p., 15.5" x 9.75". Expected folds; general toning; soiling on folds.

Through this appointment, Governor DeWitt Clinton appointed Stephen Van Rensselaer IV as a colonel of the 136th Infantry Regiment of the New York militia. By the end of his career in the militia, Van Rensselaer reached the rank of major general.

Excerpt
"The People of the State of New-York, by the Grace of God Free and Independent: To Stephen Van Rensselaer Junr Esquire GREETING:
"WE, reposing especial trust and confidence, as well in your patriotism, conduct and loyalty, as in your integrity and readiness to do us good and faithful service, Have appointed and constituted, and by these Presents Do appoint and constitute you the said Stephen Van Rensselaer Junr Colonel of the 136th Regiment of Infantry of our said State."

DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828) was born in New York and attended the College of New Jersey before graduating from King's College (Columbia University) in 1786. His uncle George Clinton was the first governor of New York from 1777 to 1795 and again from 1801 to 1804, and served as vice president of the United States from 1805 to 1812. DeWitt Clinton was admitted to the bar in 1790 but became secretary to his uncle. The younger Clinton served in the New York State Assembly in 1798 and in the New York Senate from 1798 to 1802 and again from 1806 to 1811. He completed the term of a resigned member of the U.S. Senate from 1802 to 1803, but resigned over living conditions in Washington. Appointed mayor of New York City, Clinton served a total of ten non-successive terms from 1803 to 1807, from 1808 to 1810, and from 1811 to 1815. He also won election as lieutenant governor of New York and served from 1811 to 1813. After his uncle unsuccessfully challenged James Madison for the Presidency in 1808, the Federalists turned to DeWitt Clinton in 1812. Although he polled stronger than many Federalist candidates, he lost to Madison in the Electoral College by a vote of 128 to 89. When Governor Daniel D. Tompkins resigned as governor of New York to become vice president of the United States in 1817, Clinton won a special election to succeed him. He won reelection over Tompkins in 1820. As governor, Clinton presided over the building of the Erie Canal and continued in that role after he left office at the end of 1822. When political opponents removed him as President of the Erie Canal Commission in April 1824, the political backlash led to his reelection as governor later that year, and he again served from the beginning of 1825 until his death.

Stephen Van Rensselaer IV (1789-1868) was the only surviving child of Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1764-1839) and Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler (1758-1801), third daughter of Philip and Catherine Schuyler. He graduated from Princeton in 1808 and rose to the rank of major general in the New York militia. He inherited the east side of Rensselaerswyck and inherited the manor at his father's death. He moved there from New York City in 1840 and was the last patroon of Rensselaerswyck.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 15.5" x 9.75"
  • Medium: Partially printed DS

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