Stephen Van Rensselaer IV

Stephen Van Rensselaer IV (March 29, 1789 – May 28, 1868) was American landowner, known as the "Young Patroon"

Early life Van Rensselaer was born on March 29, 1789, in Albany, New York. He was the son of Stephen Van Rensselaer III (1765–1839), and Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler (1758–1801). His father served as Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1795 to 1801, elected with Governor John Jay. Shortly thereafter in 1802, his father married Cornelia Paterson, daughter of William Paterson, the 2nd Governor of New Jersey, and later, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Through his father's second marriage, Van Rensselaer became a half-brother to Cortlandt Van Rensselaer (1808–1860), and Henry Bell Van Rensselaer (1810–1864), a United States representative in the House of Representatives and brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

Stephen graduated from Princeton University in 1808.

Family

His paternal grandfather was Stephen Van Rensselaer II (1742–1769), patroon of Rensselaerswyck, a large land grant in upstate New York awarded by the Dutch to his ancestor Kiliaen van Rensselaer (1586–1643). His paternal grandmother was Catharina Livingston (1745–1810), daughter of Philip Livingston, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. His grandfather died in 1769 when his father was only five. His maternal grandfather was Philip Schuyler (1733–1804), a Revolutionary War general. His maternal grandmother was Catherine Van Rensselaer (1734–1803), the daughter of Johannes van Rensselaer (1707/08–1783) and his first wife, Engeltje "Angelica" Livingston (1698–1746/47). Johannes was the grandson of Hendrick van Rensselaer (1667–1740)

Career Van Rensselaer served in the New York Militia, and retired with the title of Major General. daughter of William Bayard (1761–1826) of New York City. in 1837. They divorced and in 1851, Cornelia Patterson Van Rensselaer (1823–1897), who married Nathaniel Thayer Jr. (1808–1883) who married Annie Louise Wild in 1858. Bayard Van Rensselaer (1833–1859), who married Laura Reynolds (1830–1912), aunt to Marcus T. Reynolds Harriet Van Rensselaer (1838–1911), who married John Schuyler Crosby (1839–1914) who married Sarah Boyd Pendleton (1846–1923), a descendant of Elisha Boyd

Stephen Van Rensselaer IV died on May 28, 1868, in Albany, New York. The remainder of the estate was divided among his children or the heirs of his children that predeceased him.

Descendants His grandson was John Eliot Thayer (1862–1933), an amateur ornithologist. Their daughter, Van Rensselaer's great-granddaughter, Cornelia Van Rensselaer Thayer (b. 1881) married Danish Count Carl Moltke (1869–1935) in 1907.

Through his grandson, Stephen Van Rensselaer Crosby (1868–1959), he was the great-grandfather of Henry Sturgis Crosby (1898–1929), a bon vivant, poet, and publisher who for some epitomized the Lost Generation in American literature, who was married to Mary Phelps Jacob (1891–1970).