Governor of Vermont, Diplomat. He studied law under his brother, and was admitted to the bar in 1804 and moved to Vermont. President James Madison appointed him Vermont's US Attorney in 1809 and Collector of Customs in 1813. In 1816 Madison appointed him as one of the commissioners to settle the Canadian boundary under the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. In 1818 Van Ness was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. He served as Vermont Chief Justice from 1821 to 1823. In 1823 Van Ness was elected Governor and served three one year terms. In 1829 President Andrew Jackson appointed him Minister to Spain, and he served until 1836. He then settled in New York City and practiced law. From 1844 to 1845 he was Collector of the Port of New York. Van Ness's brother William was Aaron Burr's second in the duel with Alexander Hamilton and later served as US District Judge for southern New York. His brother John Van Ness served as a Congressman from New York and Mayor of Washington DC. His son James served as Mayor of San Francisco.
Governor of Vermont, Diplomat. He studied law under his brother, and was admitted to the bar in 1804 and moved to Vermont. President James Madison appointed him Vermont's US Attorney in 1809 and Collector of Customs in 1813. In 1816 Madison appointed him as one of the commissioners to settle the Canadian boundary under the Treaty of Ghent that ended the War of 1812. In 1818 Van Ness was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives. He served as Vermont Chief Justice from 1821 to 1823. In 1823 Van Ness was elected Governor and served three one year terms. In 1829 President Andrew Jackson appointed him Minister to Spain, and he served until 1836. He then settled in New York City and practiced law. From 1844 to 1845 he was Collector of the Port of New York. Van Ness's brother William was Aaron Burr's second in the duel with Alexander Hamilton and later served as US District Judge for southern New York. His brother John Van Ness served as a Congressman from New York and Mayor of Washington DC. His son James served as Mayor of San Francisco.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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