US Congressman. After graduating from Queen's College (later called Rutgers) in 1783, he studied law with Alexander Hamilton and became an attorney in New York City. He later gave up his law practice to take over management of the vast Van Cortlandt Estate in Westchester County. He served in the New York Assembly from 1811 to 1812. In 1810 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democratic-Republican and served one term, 1811 to 1813. Van Cortlandt was an officer in the militia, rising to the rank of Major General and seeing service in the War of 1812. He was also a member of the Board of Vistors at the United States Military Academy. In 1833 he founded the Westchester County Bank in Peekskill, serving as its President until his death. In 1840 he was a Whig presidential elector on the Harrison-Tyler ticket. Pierre Van Cortlandt Jr. was the brother of Brigadier General Philip Van Cortlandt, who also served in Congress, the son of Pierre Van Cortlandt Sr., New York State's first Lieutenant Governor, and the son in law of George Clinton, New York State's first Governor.

US Congressman. After graduating from Queen's College (later called Rutgers) in 1783, he studied law with Alexander Hamilton and became an attorney in New York City. He later gave up his law practice to take over management of the vast Van Cortlandt Estate in Westchester County. He served in the New York Assembly from 1811 to 1812. In 1810 he was elected to the US House of Representatives as a Democratic-Republican and served one term, 1811 to 1813. Van Cortlandt was an officer in the militia, rising to the rank of Major General and seeing service in the War of 1812. He was also a member of the Board of Vistors at the United States Military Academy. In 1833 he founded the Westchester County Bank in Peekskill, serving as its President until his death. In 1840 he was a Whig presidential elector on the Harrison-Tyler ticket. Pierre Van Cortlandt Jr. was the brother of Brigadier General Philip Van Cortlandt, who also served in Congress, the son of Pierre Van Cortlandt Sr., New York State's first Lieutenant Governor, and the son in law of George Clinton, New York State's first Governor.

Bio by: Bill McKern