Background
He was born on January 31, 1823 in New Hamburg, New York to Archibald Tappen and Margaret Maria Bogardus.
He was born on January 31, 1823 in New Hamburg, New York to Archibald Tappen and Margaret Maria Bogardus.
From 1862 to 1864, he was an Inspector of State Prisons, elected on the Union ticket at the New York state election, 1861. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867-1868. In 1868, he was elected to the New York Supreme Court (2nd District).
He was a New York City Park Commissioner from 1891 to 1895, appointed by Mayor Hugh J. Grant to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Waldo Hutchins, and re-appointed to a full five-year term, but removed from office by Mayor William L. Strong.
He was once Grand Sachem of the Tammany Society. He died on June 1, 1896 in Fordham, Bronx.
He was buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery (Bronx, New York).
He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Westchester Company, 1st Doctorate) in 1858.