Van Rensselaer Hall

Van Rensselaer was the name of the Dutch Patroon who controlled much of present day Albany, Columbia, and Rensselaer Counties. The patroonships were established by the Dutch to assist in the settlement of the New Netherlands. Kiliaen Van Rensselear, ca. 1580-1644, was the first patroon. A wealthy Amsterdam merchant, he helped establish the Dutch West India Company in 1621, and served as one of its directors. He developed his patroonship around his large initial land purchase in Albany. Kiliaen never visited his estate, but left control of it to a nephew, Arent Van Curler. The last patroon was Stephen Van Rensselaer, 1764-1839. Stephen was an avid Federalist, serving in both the New York State Assembly and Senate, as Lt. Governor, 1795-1801, and as a United States Congressman, 1822-29. Stephen cast the deciding vote that elected John Quincy Adams President of the United States in 1825. He was a member of the New York Canal Commission that recommended the building of the Erie Canal, and served as president of the Canal Commission from 1825-1839. He was the founder in 1824 of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.