John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn (June 22, 1811 – November 21, 1877) was an American lawyer, businessman and politician from Albany, New York. His business ventures included banking and railroads, often in partnership with longtime friend Erastus Corning, who was the uncle of Pruyn's first wife. Pruyn served in state and federal legislative offices, and was most notable for his terms as a United States representative from New York during the latter half of the American Civil War and the early days of Reconstruction.

Early life

Pruyn was born in Albany, New York, on June 22, 1811, the son of David Pruyn and Hibertje Lansing Pruyn. His last name is pronounced to rhyme with "shine""The Railroad Men of America", published in the Magazine of Western History, Volume VIII, Number 8 (August, 1888)Black Then: Blacks and Montreal, 1780-1880s, by Frank Mackey, 2004, page 183 and he was of Dutch descent, with Van Schaick ("Van Skoik"), Lansing and Pruyn all being prominent Dutch family names in upstate New York. Pruyn pursued classical studies and graduated from The Albany Academy in 1826. He studied law with Albany attorney James King, was admitted to the bar in 1832, and commenced practice in Albany.University of the State of New York, The Regents of the University of the State of New York: 1784-1959, 1959, page 30

In addition to practicing law, Pruyn was successful in several business ventures, often in partnership with Erastus Corning, who was the uncle of Pruyn's first wife. His business interests included the Albany City Bank, of which Pruyn was an incorporator and the longtime vice president. In addition, he helped organize the New York Central Railroad system, and was one of its main shareholders.

Later career Pruyn was elected a member of the Albany Institute in 1831, and served as president from 1857 until his death. He was appointed a regent of the University of the State of New York in 1844, and served as chancellor from 1868 until his death. Pruyn was also a founding trustee of St. Stephen's College, which was later renamed Bard College. In addition, he served on the New York State Board of Charities and on the commission that designed and built the New York State Capitol. Pruyn had the honor of laying the new capitol's first stone, which he did in an 1869 ceremony that included Governor John T. Hoffman and other prominent dignitaries.

Pruyn received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Rutgers College in 1835. He received an honorary Master of Arts from Union College in 1845, and an honorary LL.D. from the University of Rochester in 1852.

Pruyn was a member of the New York State Senate (13th D.) in 1862 and 1863.

Congress He was elected as a Democrat to the 38th United States Congress, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Erastus Corning, holding office from December 7, 1863, to March 3, 1865.John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn, Jr., A Short Biographical Sketch of the Hon. John V.L. Pruyn, LL.D., 1883, pages 6 to 8 Like Corning, Pruyn was a pro-Union Democrat who supported the war effort because he believed that states did not have the right to secede. Like many pro-Union Democrats, Pruyn also argued that in prosecuting the war, Abraham Lincoln's administration sometimes overstepped its authority with regard to individual liberties and civil rights.

Pruyn was elected to the 40th United States Congress, holding office from March 4, 1867, to March 3, 1869.

Later career Afterwards he resumed his law practice and business interests.Diana S. Waite, Albany Architecture: Guide to the City, 1993, page 77

Pruyn was a stockholder in the Central Pacific Railroad and a director of the Union Pacific Railroad. In his 1867 to 1869 term he was revealed to be one of the members of Congress who had received stock in the Crédit Mobilier. During the subsequent scandal and investigation, his name appeared on lists of Congressmen who owned shares, but records showed he had paid for his stock. He was never accused of receiving it as a bribe, or of committing any wrongdoing.

Death and burial Pruyn died in Clifton Springs, New York, on November 21, 1877. He was buried at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York.Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011 Record for John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn, accessed January 9, 2013

Family

On October 22, 1840 Pruyn married Harriet Corning Turner (June 18, 1822 – March 22, 1859), the niece of Erastus Corning.Memorials of Mrs. John V.L. Pruyn, William Buell Sprague and others, privately printed, 1859, pages 13–26 They had six children, two of whom - Erastus Corning Pruyn and John V. L. Pruyn, Jr. - lived to adulthood.

After the death of his first wife Pruyn married Anna Fenn Parker (March 26, 1840 – October 7, 1909), the daughter of Amasa J. Parker.Albany Institute of History & Art: 200 Years of Collecting, by Albany Institute of History and Art, 1998, page 152Supplement to the History and Genealogy of the Dudley family, by Dean Dudley, 1898, page 82New York State Men: Biographic Studies and Character Portraits, by Frederick Simon Hills, Volume 2, 1910, page 48Albany Architecture: A Guide to the City, edited by Diana S. Waite, published by Mount Ida Press, Albany, 2002, page 21American Ancestry, edited by Thomas P. Hughes, published by Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, Volume 1 (The City of Albany, State of New York), 1887, page 63 They had two daughters, Harriet Langdon Pruyn and Huybertje (also spelled Huybertie or Hibertje) Lansing Pruyn.

Erastus Corning Pruyn (August 24, 1841 – February 1, 1881) was an agent of the United States Department of State in Caracas, Venezuela, in the 1860s and traveled extensively as a student and businessman. He died in Tenerife.Princeton University, Princeton, Sixty-three: Fortieth-year Book of the Members of the Class of 1863, 1904, pages 134 to 135

John V. L. Pruyn, Jr. (March 14, 1859 – September 22, 1904) graduated from Union College in 1880 and practiced law in Albany.New York State Bar Association, Annual Meeting Proceedings and Committee Reports, Volume 29, 1906, pages 458 to 459

Harriet Langdon Pruyn (January 31, 1868 – July 3, 1939)Albany Rural Cemetery Burial Cards, 1791-2011, Record for Mrs. Hariet Langdon Pruyn Rice, accessed January 9, 2013 was the wife of William Gorham Rice. Rice was an aide to Governor Samuel Tilden and President Grover Cleveland, and succeeded Theodore Roosevelt as a member of the United States Civil Service Commission. In addition to being active in Albany civic and philanthropic causes, Harriet Langdon Pruyn was the author of a biography, 1924's Harmanus Bleecker: an Albany Dutchman, 1779-1849. (John V. L. Pruyn and Amasa J. Parker had been involved in the disposition of Bleecker's estate, which gave Harriet Pruyn access to Bleecker's papers.)

Huybertje Lansing Pruyn (April 8, 1878—March 6, 1964) was the wife of Charles Sumner Hamlin.New York Times, Obituary, Mrs. Charles Sumner Hamlin, March 8, 1964 She was the author of Memories of an Albany Girlhood (also published as An Albany Girlhood).

Pruyn's extended family included cousin Robert H. Pruyn, a prominent lawyer, militia general, diplomat, and politician.

References

External links

Retrieved on 2009-05-13