John V. L. Pruyn
Lithograph of John V. L. Pruyn in academic cap and gown
From the August 1888 issue of the Magazine of Western History
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 14th district
In office
1867–1869
Preceded byCharles Goodyear
Succeeded byStephen L. Mayham
In office
1863–1865
Preceded byErastus Corning
Succeeded byCharles Goodyear
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 13th district
In office
1862–1863
Preceded byAndrew J. Colvin
Succeeded byIra Shafer
Chancellor of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York
In office
1862–1877
Preceded byGerrit Y. Lansing
Succeeded byErastus C. Benedict
Personal details
Born
John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn

(1811-06-22)June 22, 1811
Albany, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 21, 1877(1877-11-21) (aged 66)
Clifton Springs, New York, U.S.
Resting placeAlbany Rural Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Harriet Corning Turner (m. 1840-1859, her death)
Anna Fenn Parker (m. 1865-1877, his death)
RelationsRobert H. Pruyn (cousin)
Amasa J. Parker (father-in-law)
William Gorham Rice (son-in-law)
Charles Sumner Hamlin (son-in-law)
Children8
Signature

John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn (June 22, 1811 – November 21, 1877) was a lawyer, businessman and politician from Albany, New York. His business ventures included banking and railroads, often in partnership with longtime friend Erastus Corning, who was the uncle of Pruyn's first wife. Pruyn served in state and federal legislative offices, and was most notable for his terms as a United States representative from New York during the latter half of the American Civil War and the early days of Reconstruction.

Early life

Harriet Corning Turner, first wife of John V. L. Pruyn

Pruyn was born in Albany, New York, on June 22, 1811, the son of David Pruyn and Hibertje Lansing Pruyn.[1] His last name is pronounced to rhyme with "shine"[2][3] and he was of Dutch descent, with Van Schaick, Lansing and Pruyn all being prominent Dutch family names in upstate New York.[4] Pruyn pursued classical studies and graduated from The Albany Academy in 1826.[5] He studied law with Albany attorney James King, was admitted to the bar in 1832, and commenced practice in Albany.[6]

In addition to practicing law, Pruyn was successful in several business ventures, often in partnership with Erastus Corning, who was the uncle of Pruyn's first wife. His business interests included the Albany City Bank, of which Pruyn was an incorporator and the longtime vice president.[7] In addition, he helped organize the New York Central Railroad system, and was one of its main shareholders.[8]

Later career

Pruyn was elected a member of the Albany Institute in 1831, and served as president from 1857 until his death. He was appointed a regent of the University of the State of New York in 1844, and served as chancellor from 1868 until his death. Pruyn was also a founding trustee of St. Stephen's College, which was later renamed Bard College.[5] In addition, he served on the New York State Board of Charities and on the commission that designed and built the New York State Capitol.[1] Pruyn had the honor of laying the new capitol's first stone, which he did in an 1869 ceremony that included Governor John T. Hoffman and other prominent dignitaries.[9]

Pruyn received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Rutgers College in 1835.[5] He received an honorary Master of Arts from Union College in 1845, and an honorary LL.D. from the University of Rochester in 1852.[10]

Pruyn was a member of the New York State Senate (13th D.) in 1862 and 1863.

Congress

He was elected as a Democrat to the 38th United States Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Erastus Corning, holding office from December 7, 1863, to March 3, 1865.[11] Like Corning, Pruyn was a pro-Union Democrat who supported the war effort because he believed that states did not have the right to secede. Like many pro-Union Democrats, Pruyn also argued that in prosecuting the war, Abraham Lincoln's administration sometimes overstepped its authority with regard to individual liberties and civil rights.[12]

Pruyn was elected to the 40th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1867, to March 3, 1869.

Later career

Afterwards he resumed his law practice and business interests.[13]

Pruyn was a stockholder in the Central Pacific Railroad and a director of the Union Pacific Railroad. In his 1867 to 1869 term he was revealed to be one of the members of Congress who had received stock in the Crédit Mobilier. During the subsequent scandal and investigation, his name appeared on lists of Congressmen who owned shares, but records showed he had paid for his stock. He was never accused of receiving it as a bribe, or of committing any wrongdoing.[14]

Death and burial

Pruyn died in Clifton Springs, New York, on November 21, 1877.[15] He was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.[16]

Family

Huybertje Lansing Pruyn Hamlin, 1900

On October 22, 1840 Pruyn married Harriet Corning Turner (June 18, 1822 – March 22, 1859), the niece of Erastus Corning.[17] They had six children, two of whom - Erastus Corning Pruyn and John V. L. Pruyn, Jr. - lived to adulthood.[1]

After the death of his first wife Pruyn married Anna Fenn Parker (March 26, 1840 – October 7, 1909), the daughter of Amasa J. Parker.[18][19][20][21][22] They had two daughters, Harriet Langdon Pruyn and Huybertje (also spelled Huybertie or Hibertje) Lansing Pruyn.[1]

Erastus Corning Pruyn (August 24, 1841 – February 1, 1881) was an agent of the United States Department of State in Caracas, Venezuela, in the 1860s and traveled extensively as a student and businessman. He died in Tenerife.[23]

John V. L. Pruyn, Jr. (March 14, 1859 – September 22, 1904) graduated from Union College in 1880 and practiced law in Albany.[24]

Harriet Langdon Pruyn (January 31, 1868 – July 3, 1939)[25] was the wife of William Gorham Rice.[26] Rice was an aide to Governor Samuel Tilden and President Grover Cleveland, and succeeded Theodore Roosevelt as a member of the United States Civil Service Commission.[27] In addition to being active in Albany civic and philanthropic causes, Harriet Langdon Pruyn was the author of a biography, 1924's Harmanus Bleecker: an Albany Dutchman, 1779-1849. (John V. L. Pruyn and Amasa J. Parker had been involved in the disposition of Bleecker's estate, which gave Harriet Pruyn access to Bleecker's papers.)[28]

Huybertje Lansing Pruyn (April 8, 1878—March 6, 1964) was the wife of Charles Sumner Hamlin.[29][30] She was the author of Memories of an Albany Girlhood (also published as An Albany Girlhood).

Pruyn's extended family included cousin Robert H. Pruyn, a prominent lawyer, militia general, diplomat, and politician.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Finding Aid to the John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn Papers". New York State Library. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  2. ↑ "The Railroad Men of America", published in the Magazine of Western History, Volume VIII, Number 8 (August, 1888)
  3. ↑ Black Then: Blacks and Montreal, 1780-1880s, by Frank Mackey, 2004, page 183
  4. ↑ "Biographical/Historical Information: Gansevoort-Lansing collection 1650-1919". Manuscripts and Archives Division. New York, NY: The New York Public Library. 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Wilson, James Grant; Fiske, John; Dick, Charles; Homans, James E., eds. (1915). The Cyclopædia of American Biography. Vol. V. New York, NY: The Press Association Compilers, Inc. p. 30: Prudhomme – Pruyn – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ University of the State of New York, The Regents of the University of the State of New York: 1784-1959, 1959, page 30
  7. ↑ Howell, George Rogers; Tenney, Jonathan (1886). Bi-centennial History of Albany, Volume 2. New York, NY: W. W. Munsell & Co. p. 532.
  8. ↑ Moody, James (1921). The Railroad Builders: A Chronicle of the Welding of the States, Volume 38. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 26. ISBN 9780722227442.
  9. ↑ Pruyn, John V. L. Jr. (1883). A Short Biographical Sketch of the Hon. John V.L. Pruyn, LL.D. New York, NY: New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. p. 7.
  10. ↑ Rutgers College (1916). Catalogue of the Officers and Alumni of Rutgers College. Trenton, NJ: State Gazette Publishing Co. p. 337. john van schaick lansing pruyn rutgers.
  11. ↑ John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn, Jr., A Short Biographical Sketch of the Hon. John V.L. Pruyn, LL.D., 1883, pages 6 to 8
  12. ↑ Williams, Frank J. (2000). "Abraham Lincoln, Civil Liberties and the Corning Letter". Roger Williams University Law Review. Bristol, RI: Roger Williams University School of Law.
  13. ↑ Diana S. Waite, Albany Architecture: Guide to the City, 1993, page 77
  14. ↑ Reports of Committees of the House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office. 1873. pp. 38, 600.
  15. ↑ "Obituary: John V. L. Pruyn". The New York Times. November 22, 1877. p. 4. Retrieved August 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011 Record for John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn, accessed January 9, 2013
  17. ↑ Memorials of Mrs. John V.L. Pruyn, William Buell Sprague and others, privately printed, 1859, pages 13–26
  18. ↑ Albany Institute of History & Art: 200 Years of Collecting, by Albany Institute of History and Art, 1998, page 152
  19. ↑ Supplement to the History and Genealogy of the Dudley family, by Dean Dudley, 1898, page 82
  20. ↑ New York State Men: Biographic Studies and Character Portraits, by Frederick Simon Hills, Volume 2, 1910, page 48
  21. ↑ Albany Architecture: A Guide to the City, edited by Diana S. Waite, published by Mount Ida Press, Albany, 2002, page 21
  22. ↑ American Ancestry, edited by Thomas P. Hughes, published by Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, Volume 1 (The City of Albany, State of New York), 1887, page 63
  23. ↑ Princeton University, Princeton, Sixty-three: Fortieth-year Book of the Members of the Class of 1863, 1904, pages 134 to 135
  24. ↑ New York State Bar Association, Annual Meeting Proceedings and Committee Reports, Volume 29, 1906, pages 458 to 459
  25. ↑ Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011, Record for Mrs. Hariet Langdon Pruyn Rice, accessed January 9, 2013
  26. ↑ "Mrs. William Rice of Albany Family: Wife of Retired President of Civil Service Commission Dies at the Capital". The New York Times. Albany (published July 4, 1939). July 2, 1939. p. O18.
  27. ↑ "Col. William C. Rice, Cleveland's Ex-Aide". The New York Times. Albany (published September 12, 1945). September 11, 1945. p. 25.
  28. ↑ "Mr. Bleecker's Legacy: Judge Parker's Offer to the Young Men's Association". The New York Times. Albany (published December 20, 1887). December 19, 1887. p. 3. Retrieved August 22, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Weddings of Early June: Miss Huybertie Lansing Pruyn married to Charles Sumner Hamlin at Albany" (PDF). The New York Times. Albany (published June 5, 1898). June 4, 1898. p. 7. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  30. ↑ New York Times, Obituary, Mrs. Charles Sumner Hamlin, March 8, 1964
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