William Peter Van Ness facts for kids
William Peter Van Ness (born February 13, 1778, died September 6, 1826) was an important United States federal judge. He also worked as a lawyer and was involved in early American politics.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Van Ness was born in a town called Ghent, New York. His father, Peter Van Ness, was a lawyer and a farmer. The family home was later bought by Martin Van Buren, who became a US President. He renamed the estate Lindenwald. William's father is buried there.
William had two famous brothers. One was John Peter Van Ness, who served in the United States House of Representatives and was also the mayor of Washington, D.C.. His other brother, Cornelius Peter Van Ness, became the governor of Vermont.
William Van Ness went to Washington Seminary for his early schooling. He then graduated from Columbia College in 1797. After college, he studied law in the office of a well-known lawyer named Edward Livingston. This was how people learned to become lawyers back then. William became a lawyer himself in 1800.
Starting His Career
William Van Ness worked as a lawyer in several New York cities. These included New York City, Albany, and Hudson. He practiced law from 1800 until 1812.
Van Ness was a close friend of Aaron Burr, who was a very important politician at the time. William Van Ness strongly supported Burr and Thomas Jefferson in the 1800 presidential election. They were part of the Democratic-Republican Party.
In 1801, William Van Ness was chosen to be a delegate. This meant he helped make changes to New York's state constitution. This was done at a special meeting called the New York Constitutional Convention.
Later, in 1802, Martin Van Buren, who would become president, finished his law studies in Van Ness's office. He then became a lawyer in Columbia County, New York.
In July 1804, William Van Ness was present during a famous historical event. He was with Aaron Burr during a duel with Alexander Hamilton.
Becoming a Judge
On May 25, 1812, President James Madison chose William Van Ness to be a federal judge. He was approved by the United States Senate very quickly, just one day later. He officially became a judge on May 27, 1812.
At first, he served on the United States District Court for the District of New York. Then, in 1814, the court system was changed. William Van Ness was then assigned to the new United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Writing Books and Reports
Besides being a judge, William Van Ness also wrote several books. These books were about politics and law. Some of his writings include:
- Examination of Charges against Aaron Burr (1803)
- The Laws of New York, with Notes, which he wrote with John Woodworth (1813)
- Reports of Two Cases in the Prize Court for New York District (1814)
- Concise Narrative of Gen. Jackson's First Invasion of Florida (1826)
His Final Years
William Van Ness continued to serve as a judge until he passed away. He died in New York City on September 6, 1826. He was buried in Brooklyn's Greenwood Cemetery.
Images for kids
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William Peter Van Ness, from an engraving made in 1807 by Charles Saint-Mémin.
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