John Tayler
Encyclopedia
John Tayler was a merchant and politician. He served nine years as Lieutenant Governor of New York
, four months as Acting Governor of New York
, and also in both houses of the New York State Legislature.
Tayler was a Patriot during the Revolutionary War
. He was drawn into public service for the Colonies.
He was a member from Albany County in the New York State Assembly
from 1777 to 1779, in 1780-81, and from 1785 to 1787. He was appointed City Recorder (Deputy Mayor) of Albany in 1793, and First Judge of the Albany County Court in 1797. In 1798
, he ran for U.S. Senator from New York, but was defeated by Federalist James Watson
. He served in the New York State Senate
from 1804 to 1813. On January 29, 1811, he was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate
and was Acting Lieutenant Governor, Lt. Gov. John Broome
having died in August 1810. He served until the end of June 1811 when he was succeeded by DeWitt Clinton
who had been elected Lt. Gov. in a special election under the provisions of Article XX of the New York State Constitution of 1777.
Tayler was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1813, and re-elected in 1816, on the ticket with Daniel D. Tompkins
. After Tompkins' resignation to assume the office of Vice President of the United States
, Tayler served as Acting Governor from February 24 to June 30, 1817.
Article XVII of the New York State Constitution of 1777 states "...as often as the seat of government shall become vacant, a wise and descreet freeholder of this State shall be, by ballot, elected governor,...,which elections shall be always held at the times and places of choosing representatives in assembly..." This meant that, whenever a vacancy occurred, the Lt. Gov. did not succeed to the governor's office but administrated the state only until the end of the yearly term of the New York State Assembly
on June 30, the successor being elected in April. This was the only occurrence of a vacancy of the governor's office under this Constitution, and in April 1817 DeWitt Clinton
was elected Governor. Tayler was re-elected Lt. Gov., and re-elected in 1820.
The duel between Alexander Hamilton
and Aaron Burr
in 1804 is linked to comments spoken by Hamilton at Tayler's home in Albany, which were related in a letter written by Tayler's son-in-law, Dr. Charles D. Cooper
, which was later published in an Albany newspaper.
Tayler died on March 19, 1829 in Albany, New York
. He was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery
in Menands, New York
.
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
, four months as Acting Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, and also in both houses of the New York State Legislature.
Life
He was a trader, farmer and shopkeeper in Albany. He married Margarita Van Valkenburgh in 1764.Tayler was a Patriot during the Revolutionary War
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...
. He was drawn into public service for the Colonies.
He was a member from Albany County in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1777 to 1779, in 1780-81, and from 1785 to 1787. He was appointed City Recorder (Deputy Mayor) of Albany in 1793, and First Judge of the Albany County Court in 1797. In 1798
United States Senate special election in New York, August 1798
The second 1798 United States Senate special election in New York was held on August 17, 1798, by the New York State Legislature to elect a U.S. Senator to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate.-Background:...
, he ran for U.S. Senator from New York, but was defeated by Federalist James Watson
James Watson (politician)
James Watson was a United States Senator representing the state of New York.-Life:Watson moved to New York City in 1786 and engaged in business pursuits. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1791, 1794–1796 and was Speaker in 1794...
. He served in the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
from 1804 to 1813. On January 29, 1811, he was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate
The Majority Leader of the New York State Senate is elected by the majority of the members of the New York State Senate. The position usually coincides with the title of Temporary President of the State Senate, who presides over the session of the State Senate if the Lieutenant Governor of New York...
and was Acting Lieutenant Governor, Lt. Gov. John Broome
John Broome (politician)
For persons with a similar name, see John BroomeJohn Broome was an American merchant and politician who was Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1804 to 1810....
having died in August 1810. He served until the end of June 1811 when he was succeeded by DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
who had been elected Lt. Gov. in a special election under the provisions of Article XX of the New York State Constitution of 1777.
Tayler was elected Lieutenant Governor in 1813, and re-elected in 1816, on the ticket with Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins
Daniel D. Tompkins was an entrepreneur, jurist, Congressman, the fourth Governor of New York , and the sixth Vice President of the United States .-Name:...
. After Tompkins' resignation to assume the office of Vice President of the United States
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, Tayler served as Acting Governor from February 24 to June 30, 1817.
Article XVII of the New York State Constitution of 1777 states "...as often as the seat of government shall become vacant, a wise and descreet freeholder of this State shall be, by ballot, elected governor,...,which elections shall be always held at the times and places of choosing representatives in assembly..." This meant that, whenever a vacancy occurred, the Lt. Gov. did not succeed to the governor's office but administrated the state only until the end of the yearly term of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
on June 30, the successor being elected in April. This was the only occurrence of a vacancy of the governor's office under this Constitution, and in April 1817 DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
was elected Governor. Tayler was re-elected Lt. Gov., and re-elected in 1820.
The duel between 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 Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
in 1804 is linked to comments spoken by Hamilton at Tayler's home in Albany, which were related in a letter written by Tayler's son-in-law, Dr. Charles D. Cooper
Charles D. Cooper
Charles DeKay Cooper was an American physician, lawyer and Democratic-Republican politician.-Life:...
, which was later published in an Albany newspaper.
Tayler died on March 19, 1829 in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. He was buried in Albany Rural Cemetery
Albany Rural Cemetery
The Albany Rural Cemetery was established October 7, 1844, in Menands, New York, just outside of the city of Albany, New York. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful, pastoral cemeteries in the United States, at over . Many historical American figures are buried there.-History:On April 2,...
in Menands, New York
Menands, New York
Menands is a village in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 3,990 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Louis Menand...
.