US Congressman. He was born in Jerusalem, now called Feura Bush, part of the town of Bethlehem. A member of the large, well-known Slingerland family, he was a large landowner and operated various agricultural and business enterprises throughout Albany County, most notably in the Bethlehem hamlet named for his family, Slingerlands. He served in the New York Assembly from 1843 to 1844. In 1846 he was elected to the US House as a Whig and served one term, 1847 to 1849. In 1848 Slingerland made national headlines when he alerted anti-slavery activists to the plight of 76 slaves who had attempted to escape Washington aboard a ship, The Pearl. Slaveowners recaptured the fugitives and sold many of them to owners deeper in the South, and the publicity Slingerland helped generate caused abolitionists to increase their efforts to end the slave trade. Slingerland did not run for reelection in 1848 and returned to Slingerlands. He also became active in railroads, working to bring the Albany & Susquehanna line to Bethlehem. Slingerland remained an anti-slavery activist, joining the Republican party at its founding and campaigning for Fremont for President in 1856. He was again a member of the New York Assembly from 1860 to 1861.
US Congressman. He was born in Jerusalem, now called Feura Bush, part of the town of Bethlehem. A member of the large, well-known Slingerland family, he was a large landowner and operated various agricultural and business enterprises throughout Albany County, most notably in the Bethlehem hamlet named for his family, Slingerlands. He served in the New York Assembly from 1843 to 1844. In 1846 he was elected to the US House as a Whig and served one term, 1847 to 1849. In 1848 Slingerland made national headlines when he alerted anti-slavery activists to the plight of 76 slaves who had attempted to escape Washington aboard a ship, The Pearl. Slaveowners recaptured the fugitives and sold many of them to owners deeper in the South, and the publicity Slingerland helped generate caused abolitionists to increase their efforts to end the slave trade. Slingerland did not run for reelection in 1848 and returned to Slingerlands. He also became active in railroads, working to bring the Albany & Susquehanna line to Bethlehem. Slingerland remained an anti-slavery activist, joining the Republican party at its founding and campaigning for Fremont for President in 1856. He was again a member of the New York Assembly from 1860 to 1861.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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