Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer

Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer (September 27, 1767 – September 22, 1835) was an American lawyer and Federalist politician who served as Speaker of the New York State Assembly from 1812 to 1813, and Secretary of State of New York, from 1813 to 1815.

Early life Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer was born on September 27, 1767, in Claverack, Columbia County in what was then the Province of New York, a part of British America. He was the second son of Gen. Robert Van Rensselaer (1740–1802) and Cornelia (née Rutsen) Van Rensselaer (1746–1790), who had married in April 1765.

His maternal grandparents were Jacob Rutsen (1716–1753) and Alida (née Livingston) Rutsen (1716–1798). After his grandfather died, his grandmother remarried to Hendrick Van Rensselaer (1712–1793).

He attended Washington Seminary, graduated from Yale University in 1787, studied law and attained admission to the bar. Their home, the Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer House and Mill Complex, built circa 1805 is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Together, they were the parents of:

Cornelia Van Rensselaer, who died young. granddaughter of William Denning, in 1848. Robert Schuyler Van Rensselaer (c. 1810–1874), who married Virginia Kidd. Jeremiah Van Rensselaer (1812–1874), who married Mary Fleming (1810–1881), daughter of Gilbert Fleming. Catharine Schuyler Van Rensselaer (1813–1838), who died from grief shortly after the death of her father.

After his death in New York City on September 22, 1835, he was buried in the cemetery at the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack.