Peter Mesier Jr.

Last updated

Peter Mesier Jr. (fl. 1810) was an American merchant and politician who served as alderman of New York City's 1st ward from 1807 to 1814 and again in 1819. [1] He was the son of Peter Mesier Sr., a loyalist merchant from New York City who moved with the family to Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County shortly after a 1776 fire which had consumed much of the family's property on Broadway. [2]

Serving as a Federalist, [3] in 1812 he worked with fellow aldermen Nicholas Fish and Jacob Hull to introduce Isaac Hull as a guest of honor while he was given the freedom of the City. [1] He served a similar role giving a banquet to James Lawrence in 1813. [1]

During the War of 1812, Mesier served on the Committee of Defense. Apprehensive of the possibility of an invasion by British troops, in September 1814, he and four others wrote to Secretary of War James Monroe requesting that sixty-year old Major General Morgan Lewis be removed from command of the Third Military District, which included New York City. They cited as their reason a lack of public confidence in Lewis' ability to perform his duties due to "frequent indisposition". They further recommended either of two individuals, both holding military rank (and Federalist opinions); one was Nicholas Fish. The following month, Madison informed Lewis that in as much as the defense of New York would be handled by militia and volunteers, command of the Military District was transferred to Democratic-Republican governor Daniel D. Tompkins. [4] [5]

Such was his role as alderman that he was called "the Alderman" by his family. [1] During his service he lived at 25 Beaver Street. [6] He died of an illness while visiting his brother-in-law on Broadway on a site later occupied by the Astor House. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elbridge Gerry</span> Founding Father and United States vice president (1813–1814)

Elbridge Gerry was an American Founding Father, merchant, politician, and diplomat who served as the fifth vice president of the United States under President James Madison from 1813 until his death in 1814. The political practice of gerrymandering is named after him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeWitt Clinton</span> American politician (1769-1828)

DeWitt Clinton was an American politician and naturalist. He served as a United States senator, as the mayor of New York City, and as the seventh and ninth governor of New York. In the last capacity, he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal. Clinton was a major candidate for the American presidency in the election of 1812, challenging incumbent James Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel D. Tompkins</span> Vice President of the United States from 1817 to 1825

Daniel D. Tompkins was an American politician. He was the fourth governor of New York from 1807 to 1817, and the sixth vice president of the United States from 1817 to 1825.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wappingers Falls, New York</span> Village in New York, United States

Wappingers Falls is a village in the towns of Poughkeepsie and Wappinger, in Dutchess County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 5,522. The community was named for the cascade in Wappinger Creek. The Wappingers Falls post office covers areas in the towns of Wappinger, Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, East Fishkill, and LaGrange. This can result in some confusion when residents of the outlying towns, who do not live in the village, give their address as "Wappingers Falls".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufus King</span> American Founding Father (1755–1827)

Rufus King was an American Founding Father, lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was a delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress and the Philadelphia Convention and was one of the signers of the United States Constitution in 1787. After formation of the new Congress, he represented New York in the United States Senate. He emerged as a leading member of the Federalist Party and was the party's last presidential nominee during the 1816 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan Lewis (governor)</span> American lawyer, politician and military commander (1754–1844)

Morgan Lewis was an American lawyer, politician, and military commander. The second son of Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Lewis fought in the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He served in the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate (1811–1814) and was New York State Attorney General (1791–1801) and the third governor of New York (1804–1807).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Rodney</span> American politician

Daniel Rodney was an American merchant and politician from Lewes in Sussex County, Delaware. He was a member of the Federalist Party, and later the National Republican Party, who served as Governor of Delaware, U. S. Representative from Delaware and U.S. Senator from Delaware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidency of James Madison</span> U.S. presidential administration from 1809 to 1817

The presidency of James Madison began on March 4, 1809, when James Madison was inaugurated as President of the United States, and ended on March 4, 1817. Madison, the fourth United States president, took office after defeating Federalist Charles Cotesworth Pinckney decisively in the 1808 presidential election. He was re-elected four years later, defeating DeWitt Clinton in the 1812 election. His presidency was dominated by the War of 1812 with Britain. After serving two terms as president, Madison was succeeded in 1817 by James Monroe, his Secretary of State and a fellow member of the Democratic-Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abraham Schermerhorn</span> American businessman and socialite

Abraham Schermerhorn was an American merchant in New York City, who was also prominent in social affairs. He was the father of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, who married William Backhouse Astor Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Augustus Suydam</span> American painter

James Augustus Suydam was an American architect, lawyer, and artist; as an artist was considered one of the premier Luminism painters. He is widely known as an American landscape painter and one of the leading members of the Hudson River School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1807 New York gubernatorial election</span>

The 1807 New York gubernatorial election was held in April 1807 to elect the Governor. Incumbent Governor Morgan Lewis ran for a second consecutive term in office but was defeated by Daniel D. Tompkins, who had the support of the influential Clinton family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1810 New York gubernatorial election</span>

The 1810 New York gubernatorial election was held in April 1810. Governor Daniel D. Tompkins was elected to a second term in office over Jonas Platt.

Wheeler Hill Historic District is a federally recognized historic district located at Wappinger in Dutchess County, New York. Along the eastern shore of the Hudson River, atop of the Van Wyck Ridge is the "estates region of the Town of Wappinger". A scenic location, with roads lined with stone walls, properties greeting guests with magnificent stone pillars and iron gates, it includes 49 contributing buildings, 15 contributing sites, and four contributing structures. It encompasses the estates of Obercreek, Elmhurst, Edge Hill, Henry Suydam, William Crosby, and Carnwath that were developed between 1740 and 1940. Also included are two 18th century riverfront commercial structures, the Lent / Waldron Store and Stone House at Farmer's Landing. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Today the historic district is mostly made up of residential houses, but Carnwath and Obercreek are opened to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Whitney</span> American merchant

Stephen Whitney was an American merchant. He was one of the wealthiest merchants in New York City in the first half of the 19th century. His fortune was considered second only to that of John Jacob Astor. As a prominent citizen of the rapidly growing city, he helped to build some of its institutions, including the Merchants' Exchange Building, the first permanent home of the New York Stock Exchange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">31st New York State Legislature</span> New York state legislative session

The 31st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 26 to April 11, 1808, during the first year of Daniel D. Tompkins's governorship, in Albany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32nd New York State Legislature</span> New York state legislative session

The 32nd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from November 1, 1808, to March 30, 1809, during the second year of Daniel D. Tompkins's governorship, in Albany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Lispenard Suydam</span>

Walter Lispenard Suydam was a prominent member of New York society during the Gilded Age.

Peter Schermerhorn was an American merchant and landowner in New York City. He was the father of Abraham Schermerhorn and the paternal grandfather of Caroline Schermerhorn Astor.

Peter Mesier Sr. was an American merchant and politician who served as alderman of New York City's West ward from 1759 to 1763.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Suydam, p. 11
  2. Suydam, p. 9
  3. "Official Charter Election of the City of New-York, Nov. 1808" . The New-York Evening Post. November 19, 1808. Retrieved August 25, 2021 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "To James Madison from Peter Mesier and Others, 3 September 1814", Founders Online, National Archives
  5. Strum, Harvey and Pierpaoli, Jr., Paul G. "Tompkins, Daniel D.", The Encyclopedia Of the War Of 1812, (Spencer C. Tucker, ed.) ABC-CLIO, 2012, p. 713 ISBN   9781851099573
  6. Suydam, p. 12
  7. Suydam, p. 13

Works cited

New York City alderman
1st ward

1807 1814
New York City alderman
1st ward

1819