Peter Gansevoort

Peter Gansevoort
1794 oil painting by Gilbert Stuart.
Born	(1749-07-17)July 17, 1749 Albany, Province of New York, British America
Died	July 2, 1812(1812-07-02) (aged 62) Albany, State of New York, United States
Buried at	Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, New York
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	Albany County Militia Continental Army United States Army
Years of service	1775-1809
Rank	Major general (militia) Colonel (Continental Army) Brigadier general (US Army)
Commands held	2nd New York Regiment, Fort George 3rd New York Regiment U.S. Army Northern Department
Battles/wars	Invasion of Quebec Siege of Fort St. Jean Seizeure of Fort Chambly Capture of Montreal Battle of Oriskany Sullivan Expedition
Spouse(s)	Catherine "Katy" Van Schaick (1752-1830)

Peter Gansevoort (July 17, 1749 – July 2, 1812) was a Colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He is best known for leading the resistance to Barry St. Leger's Siege of Fort Stanwix in 1777. Gansevoort was also the maternal grandfather of Moby-Dick author Herman Melville.

Peter Gansevoort was born into the Dutch aristocracy of Albany, New York. His father Harman (1712–1801) was of his family's third generation in America. His mother, Magdalena Douw (1718–1796) was related to New York's Van Rensselaer family (Her mother was a daughter of Hendrick van Rensselaer).

Gansevoort's ancestors had been in Albany since 1660, when it was the Dutch colony of Fort Orange, and Harmen Harmense Gansevoort owned a brewery and farms. Peter Gansevoort's younger brother Leonard was more active politically, serving in the state assembly and senate, as well as the Continental Congress. Peter Gansevoort's son Herman Gansevoort (1779–1862) built the Gansevoort Mansion in 1813 on his father's 1,500 acres (6.1 km²) tract at Gansevoort in Saratoga County, New York. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

As the American Revolution grew closer, Peter Gansevoort joined the Albany militia. While he lacked the experience of many older officers, he was a tactful and persuasive leader. Even at his young age, he was over six feet tall, and had a commanding presence. This, along with his family connections, earned him a Lieutenant's rank.