Cornelius P. Van Ness

Cornelius Peter Van Ness ( born January 26, 1782 in Kinderhook, Columbia County, New York, † December 15, 1852 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American lawyer and politician and from 1823 to 1826 Governor of the State of Vermont.

Early years

After primary school, Van Ness studied law. In 1804 he was admitted to the bar. He settled in St. Albans and later in Burlington, Vermont. In 1809 he was appointed by President James Madison to the United States Attorney for Vermont. In 1813 he became federal customs inspector in Burlington. After the British -American War, which ended with the peace concluded in December 1814 in Ghent, Van Ness in 1816 a member of a commission to resolve outstanding border issues with Canada.

Political Rise and Governor of Vermont

Van Ness was a member of, founded by Thomas Jefferson Democratic- Republican Party. In 1818 he was elected to the House of Representatives from Vermont. From 1821 to 1823 he served as Chief Justice Chief Justice of his state. In 1823 he was elected with 85.6 percent of the vote against Dudley Chase for Governor of Vermont.

After he was confirmed in 1824 and 1825 by a large majority, he could hold that office between October 1823 and October 13, 1826 10. During this time, he campaigned for the abolition of imprisonment for debtors. This goal could be at that time but politically not prevail. The governor was to improve the level of education, especially among the poorer citizens. Thus he hoped to escape the crime the ground. Governor Van Ness has also introduced the practice in Vermont system of electors provision in presidential elections.

Further CV

Even after the end of his reign Van Ness remained politically active. After the dissolution of his party, he joined the new President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic Party. Jackson appointed him in 1829 to the U.S. Ambassador to Spain. This office practiced Van Ness from to 1836. After his return, he supported the new President Martin Van Buren, with whom he had once studied law together. In 1840 he campaigned for his re-election and supported his campaign. Van Buren but lost the presidential election against William Henry Harrison.

Meanwhile, Van Ness had moved to New York City, where he worked as a lawyer. President John Tyler appointed him in 1844 to head the customs authorities in New York Harbor. This office he held until 1845. Cornelius Van Ness died in December 1852 in Philadelphia. He was married twice and had five children. His son James was later mayor of the city of San Francisco. His brother William was in 1804 's second of Aaron Burr in the duel with Alexander Hamilton. Another brother, John, was later as a member of Congress and mayor of Washington.