Robert Van Rensselaer 1740-1802

Mililtary Leader

Robert Van Rensselaer was a cousin of Henry Killian Van Rensselaer [1744-1816]. They both had a common grandfather, Hendrick Van Rensselaer.

Van Rensselaer was made a Colonel of the 8^th Albany County Regiment of Militia in October 1775. In June 1780 he was promoted to Brigadier General of the Second Brigade of the Albany County Militia. In 1778, the Albany County Brigade under the command of Brigadier General Van Rensselaer fought at fort Ticonderoga and at the Battle of Klock’s Field.

During his military contributions Van Rensselaer was active in politics. He was a member of the New York Provincial Congress from 1775 until 1777. He was also a member of the New York State Assembly in 1777-1778, 1778-1779 and 1780-1781. He was a Federalist presidential elector in 1796 and cast his votes for John Adams and Thomas Pinckney.

Robert Van Rensselaer’s parents were Johannes Van Rensselaer and Angelica Livingston. He married Cornelia Rutsen [1747-1790] on April 23, 1865. The couple had eight children: John Van Rensselaer, Jacob R. Van Rensselaer [1767], Jeremias Van Rensselaer [1769-1827], Alida Van Rensselaer, Catherine Van Rensselaer [1770-1860], Angelica Van Rensselaer [1785-1818], Henry Van Rensselaer [1775] and James Van Rensselaer [1773-1840].

Robert Van Rensselaer was born in on December 16, 1740 at Fort Crailo in Rensselaer, New York, and passed away on September 11, 1802 at the Van Rensselaer Lower Manor House. There is no information on where he was interred.

See the appendix at the end of the bio profile for Kiliaen Van Rensselaer [1595-1644] to see the relationship between the ten Van Rensselaers in this listing.

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