Background
Van Rensselaer was the son of Robert Van Rensselaer (1740–1802) and Cornelia (Rutsen) Van Rensselaer (1746–1790).
Van Rensselaer was the son of Robert Van Rensselaer (1740–1802) and Cornelia (Rutsen) Van Rensselaer (1746–1790).
Yale University.
During the War of 1812, he commanded troops which were drafted in Columbia County, and were ordered to the defense of the city of New New York He was Secretary of State of New York from 1813 to 1815 and was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1821. He is buried in the cemetery at the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack.
His home, the Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer House and Mill Complex is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Van Rensselaer was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1800, 1808, 1808-1809, 1811, 1812, 1812-1813, 1814, 1814-1815 and 1819. And was Speaker in 1812-1813.