The New York State Treasurer was a state cabinet officer in the State of New York between 1776 and 1926. During the re-organization of the state government under Governor Al Smith, the office was abolished and its responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Audit and Control headed to the New York State Comptroller. Department of Audit and Control, at NY Archives
History In 1776, the New York Provincial Congress appointed Peter Van Brugh Livingston Treasurer to disburse the monies raised and issued in the revolutionary operations of the day.
After the establishment of the state government, the Treasurer was appointed by special act of the New York State Legislature for short periods.
Under the New York State Constitution of 1821, the Treasurer was elected by joint ballot of the State Legislature.
Under the Constitution of 1846, the office became elective by general election, and the Treasurer was elected with the other state cabinet officers in odd years to a two-year term, serving in the second year of the governor in office and the first year of the succeeding governor. The Treasurer was elected in 1895 to a three-year term, and subsequently was elected in even years and served a two-year term concurrently with the governor until the end of 1926.
New York State Treasurers
Image Name Took office Left office Party NotesPeter Van Brugh Livingston17761778appointed by Provincial CongressGerard BanckerApril 1, 17781798Robert McClellanMarch 16, 1798January 31, 1803Federalistresigned after defalcationAbraham G. LansingFebruary 8, 1803February 5, 1808Dem.-Rep./LewisiteDavid ThomasFebruary 5, 1808February 8, 1810Dem.-Rep./ClintonianAbraham G. LansingFebruary 8, 1810February 18, 1812FederalistDavid ThomasFebruary 18, 1812February 10, 1813Dem.-Rep.Charles Z. PlattFebruary 10, 1813February 12, 1817FederalistGerrit L. DoxFebruary 12, 1817January 29, 1821Dem.-Rep.Benjamin KnowerJanuary 29, 1821November 3, 1824Dem.-Rep./BucktailresignedAbraham Keyser, Jr.November 3, 1824February 16, 1825Dem.-Rep./BucktailGamaliel H. BarstowFebruary 16, 1825February 14, 1826Dem.-Rep./ClintonianAbraham Keyser, Jr.February 14, 1826February 5, 1838D-R/Buckt.-Jacksonian-Dem.Gamaliel H. BarstowFebruary 5, 1838February 4, 1839WhigresignedJacob HaightFebruary 4, 1839February 7, 1842WhigThomas FarringtonFebruary 7, 1842February 3, 1845Dem./BarnburnerBenjamin EnosFebruary 3, 1845February 2, 1846Dem./HunkerThomas FarringtonFebruary 2, 1846December 31, 1847Dem./Barnburnerlegislated out of office by the Constitution of 1846Alvah HuntJanuary 1, 1848December 31, 1851Whigfirst Treasurer elected by general ballot, two termsJames M. CookJanuary 1, 1852November 20, 1852Whigelection contested by Democratic candidateBenjamin Welch, Jr.November 20, 1852December 31, 1853Democraticdeclared elected by the New York Supreme Court, and took office for the remainder of the termElbridge G. SpauldingJanuary 1, 1854December 31, 1855WhigStephen ClarkJanuary 1, 1856December 31, 1857AmericanIsaac V. VanderpoelJanuary 1, 1858December 31, 1859DemocraticPhilip DorsheimerJanuary 1, 1860December 31, 1861RepublicanWilliam B. LewisJanuary 1, 1862December 31, 1863UnionGeorge W. SchuylerJanuary 1, 1864December 31, 1865UnionJoseph HowlandJanuary 1, 1866December 31, 1867RepublicanWheeler H. BristolJanuary 1, 1868December 31, 1871Democratictwo termsThomas RainesJanuary 1, 1872June 1, 1874Republicanbecame a Liberal Republican in 1872, and was re-elected on Democratic ticket, declared incapacitated after nervous breakdownAbraham LansingJune 1, 1874August 17, 1874Democratictemporarily appointed during illness of RainesThomas RainesAugust 19, 1874December 31, 1875Democraticreinstated after recovering his mental healthCharles N. RossJanuary 1, 1876December 31, 1877DemocraticJames MackinJanuary 1, 1878December 31, 1879DemocraticNathan D. WendellJanuary 1, 1880December 31, 1881RepublicanRobert A. MaxwellJanuary 1, 1882December 31, 1885Democratictwo termsLawrence J. FitzgeraldJanuary 1, 1886December 31, 1889Democratictwo termsElliot DanforthJanuary 1, 1890December 31, 1893Democratictwo termsAddison B. ColvinJanuary 1, 1894December 31, 1898Republicantwo terms (1894-95, 1896-98)John P. JaeckelJanuary 1, 1899December 31, 1902Republicantwo termsJohn G. WickserJanuary 1, 1903December 31, 1904RepublicanJohn G. Wallenmeier, Jr.January 1, 1905December 31, 1906RepublicanJulius HauserJanuary 1, 1907December 31, 1908Dem./Ind. LeagueThomas B. DunnJanuary 1, 1909December 31, 1910RepublicanJohn J. KennedyJanuary 1, 1911February 15, 1914Democraticcommitted suicide during his second termGeorge W. BattenFebruary 15, 1914February 25, 1914Democraticas Deputy Treasurer acted until the election of a successorHomer D. CallFebruary 25, 1914December 31, 1914Progressive/Dem.elected by State Legislature to fill unexpired termJames L. WellsJanuary 1, 1915December 31, 1920Republicanthree termsN. Monroe MarshallJanuary 1, 1921December 31, 1922RepublicanGeorge K. ShulerJanuary 1, 1923December 31, 1924DemocraticLewis H. PoundsJanuary 1, 1925December 31, 1926Republicanlast Treasurer, department merged into Comptroller's office
Notes