Philip Van Cortlandt, American congressman, army officer Member Provincial Convention at the Exchange in New York City, 1775; member court martial which heard charges preferred by Pennsylvania authorities against Benedict Arnold, 1778; member of New York State Assembly, 1788, 90; member of New York Senate, 1791-1793; member United States House of Representatives from New York, 3d-10th congresses, 1793-1809.
Background
Van Cortlandt was the son of Pierre Van Cortlandt and brother of Pierre Van Cortlandt, Junior. He was a Continental Army officer during the, and later served several terms in the United States House of Representatives. He was born in New York City on August 21, 1749, and was a member of one of New York"s most prominent families.
Education
Philip Van Cortlandt attended Coldenham Academy.
Career
His great-grandfather was Stephanus Van Cortlandt, the first native-born Mayor of New York City, and his family were the patroons of Van Cortlandt Manor. During the Revolutionary War, Van Cortlandt commanded the 2nd New York Regiment in the Continental Army. He fought at the Battle of Saratoga, was with the Army at Valley Forge, and took part in the Sullivan Expedition.
During 1779 he led troops during the campaign against American Indians in western New New York
A majority of members, including Van Cortlandt, favored dismissing Arnold from the service, but they were overruled and Arnold received only a written reprimand. Van Cortlandt was commended for gallantry at the Siege of Yorktown, and mustered out of the service at the end of the war with the rank of Brigadier General.
In 1783 Van Cortlandt was one of 35 officers who created the Society of the Cincinnati. He was an organizer of the New York Society of the Cincinnati, served on the committee creating its bylaws, and served as Treasurer from 1783 to 1788.
He served in the New York State Assembly from 1788 to 1790, and the New York State Senate from 1791 to 1793.
In 1792 Van Cortlandt was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democratic-Republican, and he served eight terms, 1793 to 1809. Van Cortlandt accompanied Lafayette on Lafayette"s 1824 Tour of the United States. He died at Cortlandt Manor on November 21, 1831 and was buried in Hillside Cemetery, Cortlandt Manor, New New York
Membership
In addition to exercising manorial rights while assisting in the management of the manor"s farming and manufacturing activities, Philip Van Cortlandt was a civil engineer, and became active in politics as a founding member of the New York Provincial Congress in 1775. In 1779 and 1780 he was a member of the court martial that charged Benedict Arnold for improper conduct while in command of Philadelphia. Van Cortlandt served in local office, including town supervisor of Cortlandt, member of the town school board, and town road commissioner.
In 1788 Van Cortlandt was a member of the state convention which ratified the United States Constitution, and worked for its approval.