Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721 - 1814) was the first Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York.
He was born in New York, the son of Philip Van Cortlandt (1683 -1748) (a son of New York Mayor Stephanus Van Cortlandt) and Catherine DePeyster (a grandaugther of Johannes De Peyster— an ancestor of Abraham DePeyster and Arent Schuyler DePeyster). A great uncle Jacobus Van Cortlandt was mayor of New York City.
Van Cortlandt served briefly in the colonial forces during the American Revolution in spite of efforts by British officials to ensure his loyalty to Great Britain.
In 1777, he was the Chairmen of the Committee of Safety of the New York Provincial Congress. His primary work was to form the political structure of the state during the war. He served as head of the convention that wrote the first state constitution in Kingston, New York and then was its first Lt. Governor until 1795 with his long-time friend and associate Governor George Clinton.
Family
Van Cortlandt was married to Joanna, daughter of Gilbert Livingston. He died in New York City.
His eldest son, Philip Van Cortlandt, was a Continental Army General and New York Congressman.
The first wife of his second son (also named Pierre Van Cortlandt) was Catherine daughter of New York Governor and Continental General George Clinton. A brother George Washington Clinton was also a son-in-law to New York Congressman William Floyd.Another sister of Catherine Clinton named Maria was married to Dr. Stephen D. Beekman-a grandson of Pierre Van Cortlandt and Joanna Livingston. A cousin of Catherine was George Clinton a New York Congressman
Legacy
Cortland County, New York, Cortland, New York,and Cortlandt, New York are named after him.
External links
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by (none) |
Lieutenant Governor of New York 1777 – 1795 |
Succeeded by Stephen Van Rensselaer |
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