Richard Varick

Richard Varick
45th Mayor of New York City
In office
1789–1801
Preceded by James Duane
Succeeded by Edward Livingston
2nd Attorney General of New York
In office
May 14, 1788 – September 29, 1789
Preceded by Egbert Benson
Succeeded by Aaron Burr
Personal details
Born March 15, 1753
Hackensack, Bergen County, Province of New Jersey
Died July 30, 1831 (aged 78)
Jersey City, New Jersey
Nationality American
Political party Federalist
Spouse(s) Maria Roosevelt

Richard Varick (March 15, 1753 – July 30, 1831) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 2nd Attorney General of New York and the 45th Mayor of New York City.[1]

Early life

He was born on March 15, 1753, at Hackensack in Bergen County, New Jersey, and he died on July 30, 1831, at Jersey City in Hudson County, New Jersey.[2]

Career

American Revolutionary War

At the outset of the American Revolution, he was studying law at King's College (the former name of Columbia University) in New York City. He suspended his studies and became a captain in the militia. On June 28, 1775, he was appointed captain of the 1st New York Regiment. He served under General Philip Schuyler in various posts until after the Battle of Saratoga when he was appointed inspector-general of West Point.[2][3]

At West Point, he became an aide to General Benedict Arnold. Although he was no longer serving in this capacity when Arnold defected to the British, Varick, along with David Franks, was arrested. The two were subsequently cleared by a court of inquiry. After the West Point incident, Varick served under General George Washington as private secretary until the end of the war.[4][5]

After the war

Signature of Richard Varick while Mayor of New York (1798)

Varick was Recorder of New York from 1784 to 1789, and New York State Attorney General from 1788 to 1789. He was Mayor of New York City from 1789 to 1801.[6] While Mayor, he focused on the yellow fever epidemics which struck repeatedly. Along with Samuel Jones, Varick revised and standardized the statutes of New York (1788). He was a member of the New York State Assembly from New York County from 1786 to 1788, and he was Speaker during the sessions of 1787 and 1788. Meanwhile, he served as a colonel in the state militia.[2]

Later life

Varick also served as a bank officer. He was a founder and later president (succeeding John Jay) of the American Bible Society,[7][8] as well as a member of the Society of the Cincinnati and president of the New York chapter until his death. As such, he was responsible for maintaining the legacy of George Washington. From 1790 to 1836, celebrations of Washington's birthday in the City included Tammany Hall dinners, Washington Benevolent Society parades and an intimate open house held each February 22 by Mary Simpson (c. 1752-March 18, 1836), at her John Street grocery. Varick was a member of, and generous contributor to, many charitable organizations in New York City.[2]

Personal life

He and his wife Maria Roosevelt, daughter of Isaac Roosevelt, had no children.[9] He left his estate to his wife and relatives. Varick was interred at the First Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey.[10]

Legacy

The Town of Varick, New York, Varick Street in Jersey City and Varick Street (where he once owned property) in Manhattan in the City of New York bear his name.[11][12]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Guide to the Papers of Richard Varick 1743-1871 (Bulk 1775-1830) MS 655". dlib.nyu.edu. New-York Historical Society. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Cushman, Paul (2010). Richard Varick : A Forgotten Founding Father : revolutionary war soldier, Federalist politician, mayor of New York. Amherst, MA: Modern Memoirs. ISBN 978-0-9772337-6-2.
  3. ↑ Jameson, J. F.; Buel, J. W. (1900). American Reference Library: Encyclopedic dictionary of American Reference. American Society. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Colonel Richard Varick (1753-1831)". www.albanyinstitute.org. Albany Institute of History and Art. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Relates to General Richard Montgomery | Letter from Richard Varick to DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York, requesting repayment of cash he has advanced for expenditures relating to the Internment of the Remains of the late General Montgomery | The Met". metmuseum.org. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Marcus, Maeva; Perry, James R. (1985). The Documentary History of the Supreme Court of the United States, 1789-1800: Suits against states. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231088725. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Richard Varick: A Forgotten Founding Father". www.sunypress.edu. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. ↑ Wosh, Peter J. (1994). Spreading the Word: The Bible Business in Nineteenth-century America. Cornell University Press. ISBN 0801429285. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  9. ↑ Hoffman, Eugene Augustus (1899). Genealogy of the Hoffman family : descendants of Martin Hoffman, with biographical notes . New York: Dodd, Mead & Company. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  10. ↑ NorthJersey.com. Accessed November 22, 2017.
  11. ↑ Downtown Street Names and the Stories They Tell Archived August 22, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., LowerManhattan.info. Accessed August 22, 2007. "An extension of Seventh Avenue leading south from Clarkson Street, Varick Street got its name from Richard Varick, who served as the mayor of the city from 1791 to 1801."
  12. ↑ Longoria, Patricia (25 May 2017). "The Dutch roots of Ithaca's Dey Street". The Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 21 June 2017.

Sources

Political offices
Preceded by
John Lansing, Jr.		 Speaker of the New York State Assembly
1787–1788		 Succeeded by
John Lansing, Jr.
Preceded by
James Duane		 Mayor of New York City
1789–1801		 Succeeded by
Edward Livingston
Legal offices
Preceded by
John Watts		 Recorder of New York City
1784–1789		 Succeeded by
Samuel Jones
Preceded by
Egbert Benson		 New York State Attorney General
1788–1789		 Succeeded by
Aaron Burr
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.