Solomon van Vechten van Rensselaer | |
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Postmaster of Albany, NY | |
In office 1822–1839 |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 9th district |
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In office 1819–1822 |
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Preceded by | Rensselaer Westerlo |
Succeeded by | Stephen Van Rensselaer |
Personal details | |
Born |
East Greenbush, New York, British America |
August 9, 1774
Died | April 23, 1852 Near Albany, New York, U.S. |
(aged 77)
Spouse(s) | Harriet Van Rensselaer |
Parents |
Hendrick Van Rensselaer Alida Bratt |
Signature |
Solomon van Vechten van Rensselaer (August 9, 1774 – April 23, 1852) was a United States Representative from the state of New York, a lieutenant colonel during the War of 1812, and postmaster of Albany for 17 years.
Solomon van Rensselaer was born on August 9, 1774 in East Greenbush, New York, the son of Hendrick Kiliaen "Henry" Van Rensselaer (1744–1816) and Alida Bratt. He completed preparatory studies in East Greenbush.
He appointed as a cornet United States Army in 1792, was promoted to captain in July 1793, and then to major in January 1799, before being honorably discharged in June 1800. He was an adjutant general of New York in 1801, 1810, and 1813; and served in the War of 1812 as a lieutenant colonel of New York State Militia.
He was elected as a Federalist to the Sixteenth and Seventeenth United States Congresses, and served from March 4, 1819 to January 14, 1822, when he resigned. He was postmaster of Albany, New York from 1822 to 1839, and from 1841 to 1843 and a delegate from New York at the opening of the Erie Canal on November 4, 1825.
In January 1797, he married his cousin, Harriet "Arriet" Van Rensselaer (1775–1840), the daughter of Philip Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1747–1798), the owner of Cherry Hill. Of their many children, only five daughters and one son survived to maturity: