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Colonial Pillars

An in-depth exploration of the individuals who governed the territory of New York during its formative colonial periods, from Dutch Directors to British Royal Governors.

Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ Governors ๐Ÿ‘ค

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Forging a Colony: An Overview

Dutch Foundations

The region destined to become New York was initially settled by European colonists as the Dutch province of New Netherland in the 17th century. This venture, driven by the Dutch West India Company, aimed to exploit the North American fur trade. The colony grew into a significant port, characterized by a diverse population and its capital, New Amsterdam, situated on Manhattan Island.

English Ascendancy

In 1664, English forces seized control of New Netherland, renaming it New York. Despite a brief Dutch recapture between 1673 and 1674, the territory remained under English and later British rule until the American Revolution. This period saw the establishment of the Province of New York, with its governance evolving under various colonial administrators.

Shared Governance

From 1702 to 1738, New York and the neighboring colony of New Jersey shared a common royal governor. This arrangement, initiated under Queen Anne, reflected the administrative structures of the time and influenced the development of both regions before New Jersey was granted its own distinct governor.

Dutch Era: Directors of New Netherland (1624โ€“1664; 1673โ€“1674)

The leadership of New Netherland was vested in Directors or Director-Generals, appointed by the Dutch West India Company. These individuals managed the colony's affairs, trade, and defense during its formative years.

# Director (or
Director-General)
Took Office Left Office Key Contributions & Notes
1 Cornelius Jacobsen May 1624 1625 Explored key waterways; established initial outposts. Cape May named in his honor.
2 Willem Verhulst 1625 1626 Initiated construction of Fort Amsterdam; faced colonial discontent.
3 Peter Minuit 1626 1631 Facilitated the famous purchase of Manhattan Island for 60 guilders.
4 Sebastiaen Jansen Krol 1632 1633 Served as Commander at Fort Orange before and after his term.
5 Wouter van Twiller 1633 1638 Expanded colonial claims; faced territorial disputes with New England and Virginia settlers.
6 Willem Kieft 1638 1647 Oversaw periods of conflict, including Kieft's War; dismissed by the Company.
7 Peter Stuyvesant 1647 1664 Last Dutch Director-General; authorized settlements, managed conflicts (Peach War, Esopus Wars), and ultimately surrendered the colony to the English. Also served as Director of Curaรงao.

Brief Restoration: New Orange (1673โ€“1674)

During the Third Anglo-Dutch War, the Dutch briefly recaptured New Amsterdam, renaming it New Orange. This period of Dutch administration was short-lived, concluding with the signing of the Treaty of Westminster.

Portrait Governor Took Office Left Office Notes
Anthony Colve 1673 1674 Governed during the brief Dutch restoration; authority ended with the Treaty of Westminster.

British Era: Governors of New York (1664โ€“1673; 1674โ€“1783)

Following the English takeover, the territory was organized as the Province of New York. Governors were appointed by the Crown, overseeing administration, law, and defense, with a brief interruption during the Dominion of New England.

# Governor Took Office Left Office Notes
1 Richard Nicolls 1664 1668 Served as military governor following the English conquest.
2 Francis Lovelace 1668 1673 Continued English administration.
3 Anthony Colve (Dutch Governor) 1673 1674 Governed during the brief Dutch rule as "New Orange".
4 Edmund Andros 1674 1683 Initial governor after the final English restoration.
5 Anthony Brockholls 1681 1683 Commander-in-Chief and acting governor.
6 Thomas Dongan, 2nd Earl of Limerick 1683 1688 Established the first representative assembly.
7 Francis Nicholson 1688 1691 Served under the Dominion of New England; de facto rule until 1689.
8 Jacob Leisler 1688 1691 Led a rebellion against the Dominion's authority.
9 Henry Sloughter 1691 1691 Appointed governor, but died shortly after arrival.
10 Richard Ingoldesby 1691 1692 Military officer serving as acting governor.
11 Benjamin Fletcher 1692 1697 Governed during a period of piracy suppression efforts.
12 Richard Coote, 1st Earl of Bellomont 1698 1701 Died in office; focused on combating piracy and corruption.
13 John Nanfan 1701 1702 Acting governor following Bellomont's death.
14 Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon 1702 1708 First governor to also govern New Jersey.
15 John Lovelace, 4th Baron Lovelace 1708 1709 Died in office.
16 Pieter Schuyler 1709 1709 Acting governor.
17 Richard Ingoldesby 1709 1710 Acting governor for a second time.
18 Gerardus Beekman 1710 1710 Acting governor.
19 Robert Hunter 1710 1719 Known for efforts against piracy and promoting settlement.
20 Pieter Schuyler 1719 1720 Acting governor.
21 William Burnet 1720 1728 Focused on border defense and trade regulation.
22 John Montgomerie 1728 1731 Died in office.
23 Rip Van Dam 1731 1732 Acting governor.
24 William Cosby 1732 1736 His administration was marked by significant political conflict.
25 George Clarke 1736 1743 Acting governor during a period of political tension.
26 George Clinton 1743 1753 Longest-serving royal governor; oversaw French and Indian War preparations.
27 Sir Danvers Osborn, 3rd Baronet 1753 1753 Died by suicide shortly after arrival.
28 James De Lancey 1753 1755 Acting governor.
29 Charles Hardy 1755 1758 Naval officer who served as governor.
30 James De Lancey 1758 1760 Acting governor for a second term.
31 Cadwallader Colden 1760 1762 Acting governor; influential figure in colonial administration.
32 Robert Monckton 1762 1763 British military commander before becoming governor.
33 Cadwallader Colden 1763 1765 Acting governor.
34 Sir Henry Moore, 1st Baronet 1665 1769 Governed during a period of increasing colonial unrest.
35 Cadwallader Colden 1769 1770 Acting governor.
36 John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore 1770 1771 Later served as Governor of Virginia.
37 William Tryon 1771 1774 Governor during the lead-up to the Revolution.
38 Cadwallader Colden 1774 1775 Acting governor.
39 William Tryon 1775 1780 Continued as governor during the Revolutionary War, though often absent.
40 James Robertson 1780 1783 Military governor during the latter part of the war.
41 Andrew Elliot 1783 1783 Military governor at the end of British rule.

Historical Context

Administrative Evolution

The transition from Dutch to English rule marked a significant shift in governance. The English governors inherited and adapted existing administrative structures, while also introducing new legal and political frameworks, including the establishment of a representative assembly under Thomas Dongan.

Conflict and Diplomacy

Colonial governors navigated complex relationships with indigenous tribes, other European powers (particularly France), and internal political factions. Events like Kieft's War, the Peach War, and the French and Indian War profoundly shaped the colony's trajectory and the governors' responsibilities.

Shaping a Colony

The leadership during these periods laid the groundwork for the future state of New York. Figures like Peter Stuyvesant, Thomas Dongan, and George Clinton played pivotal roles in shaping the colony's administration, economy, and social fabric, influencing its path towards eventual statehood.

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References

References

  1.  Jacobs, Jaap. New Netherland: A Dutch Colony In Seventeenth-Century America. (Leiden: Brill, 2005), 35.
  2.  van der Sijs, Nicoline. Cookies, Coleslaw and Stoops: The Influence of Dutch on the North American Languages. (Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2009), 21.
  3.  Dolin, Eric Jay. Fur, Fortune, and Empire: The Epic History of the Fur Trade in America. (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011) passim.
  4.  World Digital Library. Articles about the Transfer of New Netherland on the 27th of August, Old Style, Anno 1664. Retrieved 21 March 2013
  5.  Farnham, Mary Frances (compiler). "Farnham Papers (1603รขย€ย“1688)" in Volumes 7 and 8 of Documentary History of the State of Maine. (Portland, Maine: Collections of the Maine Historical Society, 2nd Series. 1901รขย€ย“1902), 7:311รขย€ย“314.
  6.  Parry, Clive (editor). Consolidated Treaty Series 231 Volumes. (Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana Publications, 1969รขย€ย“1981), 10:231.
  7.  Burrows, Edwin G., and Wallace, Mike. Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), xivff.
  8.  Merwick, Donna. The Shame and the Sorrow: Dutch-Amerindian Encounters in New Netherland Early American Series. (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006).
  9.  Shorto, Russell. The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony that Shaped America. (New York City: Vintage Books, 2004).
  10.  Barrevald, Dirk J. From New Amsterdam to New York: The Founding of New York by the Dutch in July 1625. (Lincoln, Nebraska: Writers Club Press, 2001), 248.
  11.  Prak, Maarten. The Dutch Republic in the Seventeenth Century: The Golden Age. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005), 116.
A full list of references for this article are available at the List of colonial governors of New York Wikipedia page

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