John Peter Van Ness

John Peter Van Ness (* 1770 in Ghent, Columbia County, New York, † March 7, 1846 in Washington DC ) was an American politician. Between 1801 and 1803 he represented the State of New York in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also from 1830 to 1834 mayor of the capital city Washington.

Career

John Van Ness attended preparatory schools and Columbia College in New York City. After a subsequent law degree, he was admitted as a lawyer. But he has not worked as a lawyer. Politically, he joined the Democratic-Republican Party of Thomas Jefferson.

Following the resignation of Mr John Bird Van Ness was chosen as his successor in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington at the due election, where he took up his new mandate on October 6, 1801. This he held until January 17, 1803. On this day, his seat was declared vacant. The background was his appointment as a major in the militia of the Federal District District of Columbia by President Jefferson. However, the Constitution did not allow the simultaneous pursuit of a Federal Office and a mandate of Congress. Therefore, he had to give up his seat there.

After the end of his time as a congressman John Van Ness remained in the capital, where he continued his career in the militia of the Federal District. By the year 1813, he brought it up to major general. In 1829 he was elected to the city council of Washington. Between 1830 and 1834, he served there as mayor. In 1833 he served as second vice president board member of the Washington National Monument Society, and in 1834 he was president of the Commission for the Washington City Canal. He also went into the banking industry. He became president of the Washington branch of the Second Bank of the United States. Since 1814 until his death, he led the National Metropolitan Bank. Moreover, he made himself as a philanthropist a name. Since 1802, he was married to Marcia Burns ( 1782-1832 ). He died on March 7, 1846 in Washington.