James Tallmadge (1778-1853)

He served in the War of 1812 and in 1817 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives before being appointed Lieutenant Governor of New York (1825-26). He was instrumental in founding New York University and served as is Chancellor, and he was also a founding member and President of the American Institute. In that latter capacity, he "was received with distinction" in Europe in 1835 and made a favorable impression at the Court of Tsar Nicholas in Russia: "He exerted his influence with the Emperor... introducing American machinery into Russia, and effecting a benefit to his countrymen by procuring a modification of the Russian quarantine laws." He built (1833) and lived at 5 Washington Square North, New York City, which still stands today. He and his wife Laura Tallmadge (who was also his second cousin) had six children but only one daughter, Mrs. Mary (Tallmadge) Van Rensselaer, survived to adulthood.