Herman Jansen Knickerbocker (1779-1855)

U.S. Congressman from New York. A member of one of the prominent Dutch families that settled New York, he became an attorney in 1803 and practiced in Albany. He later resided on an estate in Schaghticoke, where his penchant for hosting lavish parties and other entertainment earned him the nickname "the Prince of Schaghticoke." In 1808 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Federalist and served one term, 1809 to 1811. He did not run for reelection in 1810. Knickerbocker was a member of the New York Assembly in 1816 and also served as Rensselaer County Judge. Washington Irving, a close friend, appropriated his name to create the nom de plume Dietrich Knickerbocker, which he used when writing about colonial New York. As a result, the terms "knickerbocker" and "knick" were later applied to anyone who symbolized New York's Dutch history and culture. The Knickerbocker family was also known for wearing a particular style of short pants with high stockings, which resulted in the terms "knickerbockers" and "knickers" to describe a style of women's undergarments, as well as the knee high pants worn when playing golf, football and baseball. The Knickerbocker Historical Society has restored the Knickerbocker Family Mansion, which is open to the public, and improvements are ongoing.

Bio by: Bill McKern