John Van Buren
| John Van Buren | |
|---|---|
John Van Buren (photo between 1855 and 1865)
|
|
| 21st Attorney General of New York | |
|
In office February 3, 1845 – December 31, 1847 |
|
| Governor |
Silas Wright John Young |
| Preceded by | George P. Barker |
| Succeeded by | Ambrose L. Jordan |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 18, 1810 Hudson, New York |
| Died | October 13, 1866 (aged 56) At sea |
| Resting place | Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Free Soil Party |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Vanderpoel (m. 1841–44) |
| Children | Anna Van Buren |
| Alma mater | Yale College |
| Profession | Lawyer |
John Van Buren (February 18, 1810 – October 13, 1866) was an American lawyer and politician.
He was born on February 18, 1810, in Hudson, Columbia County, New York, the second son of President Martin Van Buren and Hannah Hoes Van Buren. He graduated from Yale College in 1828, studied law with Benjamin F. Butler and Aaron Vanderpoel, and attained admission to the bar in 1830. In 1831, when Martin Van Buren was appointed U.S. Minister to Britain, John Van Buren accompanied him as secretary of the American Legation in London. Both returned in 1832 after Congress failed to confirm the appointment.
John Van Buren then opened a law practice with James McKown in Albany. He is said to have possessed a “remarkable memory”, “his success at the bar was great, but his fame as a lawyer has been dimmed by his wit and his wonderful ability as a politician." He returned to England on his own in 1838-39 (during his father's Presidency). He had spectacular seats at Queen Victoria's coronation, also attended the Queen's prorogue to Parliament, and earned his nickname of “Prince John” after he danced with her in 1838. Van Buren dined with the who’s who of 19th century England, Ireland and Scotland. He also met with the King of France, Louis Philippe I, the King of Belgium, Leopold I, and the King of the Netherlands, William I, (Prince William IV of Orange).
On June 22, 1841, he married Elizabeth Vanderpoel (May 22, 1810 – November 19, 1844), his childhood sweetheart. They had one daughter, Anna (1842-1923), and after her death, Van Buren never remarried.
From 1845 to 1847, he served as New York State Attorney General, the last holder of that office elected by joint ballot of the Assembly and Senate, under the provisions of the state Constitution of 1821. In 1845, he conducted the prosecution of some leaders of the Anti-Rent War at their trial for riot, conspiracy and robbery in protest of attempts by the wealthy owners of Van Rennsselaer Manor and other large upstate New York land grants to collect rents, which Stephen Van Rensselaer and other patroons had long deferred. Ambrose L. Jordan led for the defense. At the first trial the jury was deadlocked. At the re-trial, in September 1845, the two leading counsel started a fist-fight in open court, and were both sentenced by the presiding judge, Justice John W. Edmonds, to "solitary confinement in the county jail for 24 hours." Governor Silas Wright refused to accept Van Buren's resignation, and both counsel continued with the case after their release from jail. The defendant, Smith A. Boughton ("Big Thunder"), was sentenced to life imprisonment. At the next state election Governor Wright was defeated by John Young, who had the support of the Anti-Renters. Young pardoned Big Thunder.
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