Born, 1746; died, 1813. He was descended from an ancient
Dutch family that settled on the banks of the Hudson, in the
seventeenth century.
A lawyer, one of the committee of five who drew up the Act of
Independence, in 1780 he became Foreign Secretary, and distinguished
himself during the whole of the American War by his zeal and
intelligence. On the conclusion of peace he was named Chancellor for
the State of New York.
In 1801 President Jefferson despatched him to Paris as American
Minister, when he, conjointly with Monroe, carried out successfully the
negotiations for the cession of Louisiana to the United States.
Upon his return to his native country in 1805 he founded the New York
Academy of Art, of which he was first President.