Oloff Van Cortlandt was an early Dutch settler of New Netherland who arrived in 1638 and became a successful merchant, brewer, and civic leader in New Amsterdam. His sons later established the influential Van Cortlandt family in New York.

Jacobus Van Cortlandt was a New York merchant and civic leader who served twice as mayor of New York City. A member of the prominent Dutch colonial family, his family lands later became Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

Schuyler Colfax rose from poverty to become a newspaper editor, U.S. congressman, and Speaker of the House. A strong opponent of slavery, he later served as vice president of the United States under Ulysses S. Grant.

Schuyler Colfax rose from poverty to become a newspaper editor, U.S. congressman, and Speaker of the House. A strong opponent of slavery, he later served as vice president of the United States under Ulysses S. Grant.

Aaron Van Schaick Cochrane was a New York lawyer, judge, and congressman. A Yale graduate, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives before becoming a justice of the New York Supreme Court and later presiding justice of its Appellate Division.

DeWitt Clinton was a prominent New York statesman who served as mayor of New York City, U.S. senator, and governor of New York. He is best remembered as the driving force behind the construction of the Erie Canal.

Montgomery Clift was an American stage and film actor known for intense, emotionally complex performances. He earned multiple Academy Award nominations for films including The Search, A Place in the Sun, and From Here to Eternity.

Lee Van Cleef was an American actor best known for portraying villains in Western films. After World War II service, he began acting on stage and gained fame in films such as High Noon and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Angelica Schuyler Church was the daughter of Revolutionary War General Philip Schuyler and sister-in-law of Alexander Hamilton. Known for her intelligence and social influence, she moved in prominent political circles in America and Europe.

Chevy Chase is an American comedian, actor, and writer known for his work on Saturday Night Live and in films such as Caddyshack, Fletch, and the National Lampoon’s Vacation series. His ancestry traces to early Dutch settlers of New Amsterdam.

Gilbert Van Camp, Sr. was an American food entrepreneur who pioneered canned vegetables and popularized canned pork and beans during the Civil War era. His innovations led to the Van Camp brand, later connected to Stokely-Van Camp and Chicken of the Sea.

Thomas Edison was an entrepreneurial inventor who transformed existing ideas into practical, commercially successful products. Holding 1,093 U.S. patents, he pioneered team-based innovation and achieved extraordinary success despite having only three months of formal education.