Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer (1774-1852)

US Congressman. Appointed as a cornet at the age of 18, he served under General Anthony Wayne and was wounded during the Battle of Miami in August 1794. He mustered out in 1801, was appointed the Adjutant General of the State Militia in 1801, 1810 and 1813. A Lieutenant Colonel of the New York Volunteers, he was instrumental in the defense the northern and western frontiers, commanding the troops involved in the Battle of Queenstown, where he was wounded several times. He served as a Federalist Congressman from March 4, 1819 until his resignation on January 14, 1822. He was commissioned the Post Master of Albany, New York, serving from 1822 until 1839 and again from 1841 until 1843. He was a delegate at the opening of the Erie Canal on November 4, 1825 and served as a district delegate to the Whig National Convention in 1839. He retired from public service in 1841 and lived at his estate, Cherry Hill, until his death in 1852. Initially buried in North Dutch Church Cemetery, he was later re-interred in Albany Rural Cemetery.

Bio by: Beth Painter