Philip Van Cortlandt

Philip Van Cortlandt ( born August 21, 1749 New York City; † November 21, 1831 in Croton, Westchester County, New York) was an American general and politician. He was the brother of U.S. Representative Pierre Van Cortlandt, Jr..

Career

Philip Van Cortlandt studied classical archeology and attended the Academy Coldenham. He then worked as a civil engineer. He also pursued a political and military career. He was in 1775 a member of the Provincial Congress of New York. After the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, he enlisted in the Continental Army. He served at this time the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. For his performance at the siege of Yorktown under General Lafayette, he was appointed brigadier general. Van Cortlandt was from 1788 to 1790 member of the New York State Assembly. During this time, he ratified the U.S. Constitution as a delegate in 1788. Then he was 1791-1793 Member of the Senate of New York. Van Cortlandt was elected to the 3rd U.S. Congress and re-elected as a Democratic -Republican to the seven succeeding U.S. Congresses. He served from March 4, 1793 to March 3, 1809 U.S. House of Representatives. During this time he also served as supervisor of Cortlandt (New York), school commissioner and roadmaster active. In addition, he was concerned with agriculture and was a founding member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He died in 1831 at the Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton (New York) and was then on the Hillside Cemetery in Peekskill (New York) buried.