|
Dromo's Den
|
|
[Up] [Dromo's Den] Philip John Schuyler Biography SCHUYLER,
Philip John (1733-1804). An eminent American soldier and statesman, born
Nov. 20, 1733, at Albany, N. Y. Entering the English army on the outbreak of the
French and Indian War, he served as captain in 1755 and as captain and
commissary in 1756. In 1757 he resigned, but reëntered the army, as major, in
1758 and served as such until the close of the war. He was elected to the
Colonial Assembly in 1768 and in May, 1775, was a delegate to the Continental
Congress, by which he was made a major general on June 19. Being assigned by Washington
to the command of the Northern Department, he organized the expedition against
Canada, which was to proceed by way of Lake Champlain, but he was forced by
illness to depute the active leadership of the invading troops to Gen.
Richard Montgomery (q.v.). Returning to Albany, he directed operations
against the Indians and Tories and, as Indian Commissioner, carried on important
negotiations with the Six Nations. Meanwhile Gen. Horatio
Gates (q.v.) and many of the New England delegates; who had been offended by
Schuyler's attitude in the New York-Massachusetts boundary disputes, began
scheming for his removal; and in September, 1776, disgusted at these intrigues,
he sent in his resignation, which, however, was not accepted by Congress. In
April, 1777, a congressional court of inquiry strongly commended him for his
conduct hitherto, but the attacks continued, being especially bitter after St.
Clair's evacuation of Ticonderoga, and on August 19 General Gates was appointed
to supersede him in command of the Northern Department. Schuyler, however,
remained with the army and assisted very materially in the operations against
Burgoyne. A court martial, convened in October, 1778, acquitted him with the
highest honor of all charges, and his resignation having been accepted April 19,
1779, he became one of New York's representatives in Congress, serving until
1781. After the war he was one of the leaders of the Federalist party and held
many important State offices, besides representing New York in the United States
Senate in 1789-91 and again in 1797-98. While serving in the State Senate he
helped codify the New York laws and ardently advocated the building of State
canals. Throughout his public career he was conspicuous for his great abilities,
his stanch patriotism, and his unselfish devotion to duty. His daughter
Elizabeth married Alexander Hamilton. Consult B. J.
Lossing, Life and Times of Major General
Philip Schuyler (2 vols., New York, 1872-73), and Bayard Tuckerman, Life
of General Philip Schuyler (ib., 1904). |