Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/239

 DE PEYSTER

DE PEYSTER

the province of New York and New Jersey, and president of the King's council, and acting gov- ernor of the province in 1700; and great* grand- son of Johannes de Peyster (about 1600-1685), a French Huguenot, who emigrated to America about 1645 from Haarlem, Holland, where the family had taken ref- uge from persecution after the massacre of St. Bartholomew. He was a burgomaster under the Dutch gov- ernment of New Am- sterdam, and was prominent in its de- fence, 1673-74. He was also alderman and deputy maj'or of the city of New Y^'ork under the English rule. Frederic was graduated at Colum- bia college with the degree of A.M. in 1816; was attorney and counsellor-at-law from 1819 ; and master-in-chancery, 1820-37. From 1837 he devoted his time to the care of his estate. He served in the state militia as brigade-major and was military .secretary and second aide on the staff of Governor Clinton with the rank of colonel, 1825 -28. He was a member of the New York histori- cal society, 1826-82, its corresponding secretary, 1827-37, 1838-43, foreign secretary, 1844-50, vice- president, 1850-53, and president, 1864-67 and 1873-82. He was a trustee and president of the New York society library and of the Deaf and dumb asylum ; and a founcier of the St. Nicholas society, of the Soldiers' home erected by the G. A. R., and of the Home for incurables. He was president of the St. Nicholas club; vice-presi- dent of the Society for the prevention of cru- elty to children; and a trustee of the Leake and Watts orphan asylum, 1830-82. He was a fellow of the Royal historical society of Great Britain, 1877-82. He was married in 1820 to Mary Justina, daughter of John Watts, the last loyal recorder of New York, founder of the Leake and Watts orphan asylum. New Y^'ork, representative in the 3d U.S. congress and speaker of the state assembly three terms. He received the degree of LL.D. from Columbia in 1867. He is the author of numerous historical addresses and monographs which were printed privately and by the New York historical .society. He died at the residence of his son. Gen. John Watts de Peyster, at Tivoli-on-the-Hudson, N.Y.. Aug. 17, 1882.

DE PEYSTER, John Watts, military and his- torical author, was born in New York city, March 9, 1821; son of Frederick and Mary Justina

(Watts) de Peyster; grandson of Frederic and Helen (Hake) de Peyster; and a direct descend- ant from Johannes, tiie first de Peyster in Amer- ica, who came from Haarlem, Holland, about 1645, and was a burgomaster under the Dutch rule of New Amsterdam and deputy -mayor of New York under the English, refusing the mayor- alty because of his imperfect acquaintance with the English language. John Watts was brought up and educated with his cousin, Philip Keainy. He was one of the originators of the New Y^ork paid fij-e department and of the Metropohtan police department. Heart trouble induced while serving as a boy in the volunteer fire department disqualified him from entering active military life. In 1845 he was commissioned by Governor Wright colonel in the infantry service, N.Y. S.M., but was immediately legislated out of com- mand by a change in the state law. In 1849 the law was again clianged and Governor Fish assigned him for " meritorious service " to the command of the 22d regiment. In 1851 he was promoted by Governor Hunt to the rank of brigadier-general and assigned to the command of the 3d brigade of the state military forces for important services. The governor also appointed him military agent of the state to visit Europe to take observation and report thereupon in the interest of the militia organizations of the state. On his return his reports were submitted to Jef- ferson Davis, secretary of war, and elicited his thanks in behalf of the government and especially for " placing your valuable collections of books and MSS. at the service of the government." He recommended the adoption of the Napoleon gun years before its superiority had been recog- nized by the Federal military authorities. In 1854 he was appointed adjutant -general on the staff of Governor Clark, and the reforms he instituted so disturbed the politicians of the state as to render the efforts unpleasant and he resigned his commission. In the spring of 1861 he offered to President Lincoln three regiments to be raised and officered by himself and his former associ- ates in the state military service, and he re- peated his offer of two regiments in the fall of the same year. The war department peremptorilj^ refused both offers. In 1862-64 his three sons, John Watts, Frederic and Johnston Livingston, aged nineteen, eighteen and sixteen years re- spectively, bore arms in the Federal army and such service cost the lives of the two elder boys. During and after the war General de Peyster was the friend and confidential correspondent of Admiral Farragut, Gen. George H. Thomas, Gen. A. A. Humphreys and Generals Kearny, Ro.se- crans, Barnard, Hooker, Warren, McAllister and others. In April, 1866, the legislature of the state of New York by concurrent resolutions, after