Joseph C. Yates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Christopher Yates (November 9, 1768–March 19, 1837), born in Schenectady, New York, was an American lawyer, statesman and politician. Yates catapulted himself up the ranks of his day, becoming first the mayor of Schenectady (1798), then a state Senator (1805), followed by a State Supreme Court Justice (1808) and finally the eighth Governor of New York (1823–1824).
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[edit] Family
Joseph was born to Christopher "Colonel Stoeffel" Yates and his wife Jannetje Bradt in the autumn of 1768. He began his long public career as an attorney-at-law, of extensive practice, and ended up a Democratic-Republican Governor.
He took three wives. The first was for love: Ann, widow of James Ellice. The second was for money: Maria, daughter of John Kane. The last was for clout, as he required the support of the public to further his ambitious political career. Her name was Elizabeth De Lancey, a daughter of John De Lancey, of Westchester County, New York.
Yates had three children, all daughters: Helen Maria, Anna Alida and Jane Jesepha. Helen, the oldest, was born on September 28th, 1797. She was married to Colonel John K. Paige and died January 25th, 1829, eight years before her father. Anna, the second oldest, was born September 14th 1806, married to John D. Watkins, a citizen of Georgia. Jane, the last child, was born November 6th, 1811, married to Samuel Neil of New York.
[edit] History
John Vanderlyn painted his portrait in 1827. Vanderlyn painted many historical figures including George Washington, Aaron Burr, James Monroe, George Clinton, Andrew Jackson and Zachary Taylor. The painting is owned by the City of New York.[1]
One of the first Governors Mansions of the State of New York still exists on Front Street in the Historic Stockade District of Schenectady, New York.
[edit] Death
Joseph C. Yates died on March 19th, 1837 at the age of 69. He was initially buried in a family cemetery in Schenectady County, New York. In 1889, his daughter Jane reinterred the remains of Joseph Yates and those of several other family members to the Neil family mausoleum in the churchyard of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Bronx County, New York. At present, there are no markers on the Neil family mausoleum to indicate that Gov. Yates is buried there.
[edit] More Information
More information on the Yates family can be found at the Schenectady County Historical Society.
Yates County, New York and the Town of Yates are named after Yates, who approved the act that formed the county. He was also a founder of Union College in Schenectady, New York.
[edit] References
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by DeWitt Clinton |
Governor of New York 1823 - 1824 |
Succeeded by DeWitt Clinton |
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