Angelica Schuyler Church
Encyclopedia
Angelica Schuyler Church (February 20, 1756 – March 13, 1814) was the eldest daughter of Continental Army
General Philip Schuyler
, wife of British MP John Barker Church
, sister of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
(wife of Alexander Hamilton
), and a prominent member of the social elite wherever she lived; first in New York, then in Paris, London and New York again. The village
and the town
named "Angelica", both located in New York State
were named after her.
and Catharine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. Both parents came from wealthy Dutch families prominent since early colonial days. Catharine was a descendant of Kiliaen van Rensselaer
, one of the founders of New Netherlands. The Schuylers were also fourth-generation residents.
Angelica came of age during the troubled times leading up to the American Revolution
, and met many of the prominent revolutionary leaders. Because of her father's rank and political stature, the Schuyler house in Albany was the scene of many meetings and war councils. One of the visitors, in 1776, was John Barker Church
, a British-born merchant who made a fortune during the war supplying the American and French armies. At the time of their meeting and subsequent courtship, Church was on a mission from the Continental Congress
to audit army supply records. Knowing that her father would not bless their marriage because of his suspicions about Church's past, Angelica and John eloped in 1777. In 1783, they and their four children left for Europe, not to return to New York until 1797.
, U.S. Ambassador to France. She also developed lasting friendships with Franklin's successor, Thomas Jefferson
, and with the Marquis de Lafayette.
After a brief visit to New York in 1785, the family sailed for England, taking up residence in London. Now the wife of a very wealthy man, Angelica entered a fashionable social circle that included the Prince of Wales, Whig party leader Charles James Fox
and playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan
. She also befriended and sponsored emigre American painter John Trumbull
, who went on to create some of the most famous paintings of the Revolutionary War era. Always an American at heart, Angelica made a visit in 1789 to attend the inauguration of George Washington
as the nation's first president.
, in upstate New York.
, and the Marquis de Lafayette were kept in her family's possession until they were sold to The University of Virginia
for $275,000 in 1996. The letters from Jefferson were of particular interest to the University, as it was he who founded it almost 200 years earlier. In one note Jefferson wrote:
This is an allusion to a sexually charged scene in Laurence Sterne
's popular novel A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy
in which "Parson Yorick" has to negotiate sleeping arrangements when obliged to share a room with an attractive Italian woman and her maid.
Angelica's correspondence with Hamilton, now preserved in the Library of Congress
, demonstrates a strong affection between them. There has long been speculation that she may have had a romantic and possibly sexual relationship with Hamilton. Hamilton biographer Ron Chernow
notes that:
One letter sent to Angelica's sister Elizabeth, Hamilton's wife, is suggestive of a relationship, but likely an innocent joke between sisters. Speaking of Elizabeth's husband, Angelica wrote to her:
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
General Philip Schuyler
Philip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
, wife of British MP John Barker Church
John Barker Church
John Barker Church was born in Lowestoft, England, befriended the cause of the American Revolution , was Commissary General of the French Army in America, and financially aided the new government. Returning to England after the war, he was elected a Member of Parliament...
, sister of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
Elizabeth Hamilton was the wife of Alexander Hamilton. She was born in Albany, New York, the second daughter of Philip Schuyler, an American Revolutionary War general, and Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler, one of the richest and most political families in the state of New York...
(wife of Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
), and a prominent member of the social elite wherever she lived; first in New York, then in Paris, London and New York again. The village
Angelica (village), New York
Angelica is a village in Allegany County, New York, USA. The population was 903 at the 2000 census. The village and the town are named after Angelica Church, a daughter of General Philip Schuyler and wife of John Barker Church....
and the town
Angelica (town), New York
Angelica is a town in the middle of Allegany County, New York, United States. The population was 1,411 at the 2000 census. The name Angelica is from Angelica Schuyler Church, Alexander Hamilton's sister-in-law and wife of John Barker Church. There is also a village called Angelica located in...
named "Angelica", both located in New York State
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
were named after her.
Early life
Angelica Schuyler was born in Albany, New York; the eldest daughter of Philip SchuylerPhilip Schuyler
Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:...
and Catharine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. Both parents came from wealthy Dutch families prominent since early colonial days. Catharine was a descendant of Kiliaen van Rensselaer
Kiliaen van Rensselaer
Kiliaen van Rensselaer was a Dutch diamond and pearl merchant from Amsterdam who was one of the founders and directors of the Dutch West India Company and was instrumental in the establishment of New Netherland...
, one of the founders of New Netherlands. The Schuylers were also fourth-generation residents.
Angelica came of age during the troubled times leading up to the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, and met many of the prominent revolutionary leaders. Because of her father's rank and political stature, the Schuyler house in Albany was the scene of many meetings and war councils. One of the visitors, in 1776, was John Barker Church
John Barker Church
John Barker Church was born in Lowestoft, England, befriended the cause of the American Revolution , was Commissary General of the French Army in America, and financially aided the new government. Returning to England after the war, he was elected a Member of Parliament...
, a British-born merchant who made a fortune during the war supplying the American and French armies. At the time of their meeting and subsequent courtship, Church was on a mission from the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
to audit army supply records. Knowing that her father would not bless their marriage because of his suspicions about Church's past, Angelica and John eloped in 1777. In 1783, they and their four children left for Europe, not to return to New York until 1797.
Life in Europe
From 1783-85, Angelica and her family lived in Paris while John performed his duties as a U.S. envoy to the French government. Angelica never failed to enchant the famous, intelligent men she met, and in Paris she soon befriended the venerable Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
, U.S. Ambassador to France. She also developed lasting friendships with Franklin's successor, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, and with the Marquis de Lafayette.
After a brief visit to New York in 1785, the family sailed for England, taking up residence in London. Now the wife of a very wealthy man, Angelica entered a fashionable social circle that included the Prince of Wales, Whig party leader Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox
Charles James Fox PC , styled The Honourable from 1762, was a prominent British Whig statesman whose parliamentary career spanned thirty-eight years of the late 18th and early 19th centuries and who was particularly noted for being the arch-rival of William Pitt the Younger...
and playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan was an Irish-born playwright and poet and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. For thirty-two years he was also a Whig Member of the British House of Commons for Stafford , Westminster and Ilchester...
. She also befriended and sponsored emigre American painter John Trumbull
John Trumbull
John Trumbull was an American artist during the period of the American Revolutionary War and was notable for his historical paintings...
, who went on to create some of the most famous paintings of the Revolutionary War era. Always an American at heart, Angelica made a visit in 1789 to attend the inauguration of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
as the nation's first president.
Return to America
John and Angelica Church finally returned to the U.S. in 1797, to be reunited with her family in New York. In 1804, built a country house, christened BelvidereBelvidere
Belvidere is the name of communities or other places in South Africa and in the United States. Belvidere may refer to:-United States:* Belvidere, Delaware, a place in New Castle County, Delaware* Belvidere, Idaho, a place in Valley County, Idaho...
, in upstate New York.
The letters
A series of letters Angelica Church received from Jefferson, Hamilton, George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, and the Marquis de Lafayette were kept in her family's possession until they were sold to The University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
for $275,000 in 1996. The letters from Jefferson were of particular interest to the University, as it was he who founded it almost 200 years earlier. In one note Jefferson wrote:
This is an allusion to a sexually charged scene in Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics...
's popular novel A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy is a novel by the Irish-born English author Laurence Sterne, written and first published in 1768, as Sterne was facing death. In 1765, Sterne travelled through France and Italy as far south as Naples, and after returning determined to describe his...
in which "Parson Yorick" has to negotiate sleeping arrangements when obliged to share a room with an attractive Italian woman and her maid.
Angelica's correspondence with Hamilton, now preserved in the Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
, demonstrates a strong affection between them. There has long been speculation that she may have had a romantic and possibly sexual relationship with Hamilton. Hamilton biographer Ron Chernow
Ron Chernow
Ronald Chernow is an American biographer. He is the author of Washington: A Life, Alexander Hamilton, The House of Morgan, and Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr., among other works...
notes that:
One letter sent to Angelica's sister Elizabeth, Hamilton's wife, is suggestive of a relationship, but likely an innocent joke between sisters. Speaking of Elizabeth's husband, Angelica wrote to her: