Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/18

VAN CORTLANDT. surveyor at nineteen, and in -Tune, 1775. after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, entered the Continental Army as lieutenant-colonel, serving in the campaign against Burgoyne (1777),, in Sullivan's expedition against the Iroquois In- dians (1779), and in the Virginia campaign, which closed with the capture of Yorktown (1781). He became a colonel in Xovomber, 1776, and a brevet brigadier-general in Septem- ber, 178.3. Subsequently he was a member of the State Convention which ratified the Federal Con.stitution (1788), of the New York Assembly (1789-90). of the New York Senate (1701-94), and of Congress (1793-1809).

VAN CORTLANDT, Stephanus (1643-1700). An American colonial administrator, born in New Amsterdam (New York Cit_y). He was privately educated in New Amsterdam, and became a prosperous merchant. He was a mem- ber of the Court of Assizes, a legislative-judicial body, under the first English Governor, Nicolls. He had various ranks from captain to colonel in the regiment of colonial militia, and from 1677 almost continuously until bis death was Mayor of New York City, being the first native American to hold that position. His other po- sitions under the British colonial government included those of Governor's Councillor, Judge of the Common Pleas, Justice and Chief Jus- tice of the Provincial Supreme Court, Commis- sioner of Revenue, Deputy Auditor-General, and Deputy Secretary of the Province. In 1697 William III., by 'patent, erected Van Cortlandt's large estates into the manor of Cortlandt. VANCOUVER, van-kiJo'ver. The largest city of British Columbia, Canada, situated on Bur- rard Inlet (q.v. ), a deep indentation in the moun- tainous coast, forming a fine harbor for the largest vessels (Jlap: British Columbia, E 5). It was incorporated as a city in 1886, and has fine water-works, gas and electric lights, and electric street railroads. Stanley, East End, and i'alse Creek are fine parks; and there are hand- some churches, Vancouver College, affiliated with McGill University, Montreal, is located here. Its industrial establishments include workshops of the Canadian Pacific Railway, iron works, jute, cooperage, and furnitiire works, sugar refineries, candy factories, and fruit-preserving establish- ments. The Ivnnber industry is also represented. A solitary sawmill in an unbroken wilderness marked the site of the present town when, in 188.9, the Canadian Pacific Railroad decided to make it their western terminal on account of the fine harbor. The city was platted and many buildings had been erected when in 1SS6 the place was enlirely destroyed liy fire. Poimlation, in 188(1. (iOO; in 189!, 13J09;'in 1901, 26.196.

VANCOUVER. The county-seat of Clarke County. Wash., 6 miles north of Portland. Ore.: on the Columbia River, the Northern Pacific and the Vancouver, Klickitat and Yakima rail- roads, and on several steamship lines (Map: W'ashington. C 4). It has Saint .Tamos College (Roman Catholic), opened in )8.")6, an<l the State School for Defective Youths. The headquarters of the Military Department of the Columbia are there, the Vancouver Barracks (q.v.) being among the finest army posts in the United States. Other features include the House of Providence, Saint .Joseph's Hospital, the Public Library, Court House, and a United States Land Office. There is also a picturesque park, in the heart of the city. The surrovuiding section is noted for its extensive lumbering interests. Farming, fruit-growing, and dairying are other important industries. The principal manufac- tures include brick, beer, Hour, and lumber prod- ucts. According to the charter of 1890, the gov- ernment is vested in a mayor, chosen annually, and a unicameral council. Vancouver was founded by the Hudson's Bay Company- in 1828, and was first incorporated in 1858. Population, in 1S90. :^'i45: in 1900, 3120.

VANCOUVER, George (1758-98). An Eng- lish naval officer and explorer, who served with Cook in his second and third voyages. In 1791 he was sent to Nootka Sound (q.v.) to receive the transfer of the disputed territory from the Spaniards. He went by way of the Cape of Good Hope, touched at Australia and New Zealand, where he surveyed and mapped a portion of the coast hitherto unknown, and then proceeded by way of Tahiti to Nootka. In the following year he passed through the Strait of San .Juan de Fuca, discovered the Gulf of Georgia, and circum- navigated Vancouver Island. He then carefully examined for the first time the coast north of San Francisco, and returned to England in Oc- tober, 1795. His account of his expedition was practicallj' completed at the time of his death in 1798, and was published that year, in London, under the title, A Voya<ie of Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean and Round the World in the Tears 17:i0 93.

VANCOUVER BARRACKS. A United States military post in the State of Washington, established in 1849. The reservation, which em- braces 040 acres, is situated on the right bank of Columbia River, 120 miles from its moutli. and 8 miles from Portland, Oregon, which is the nearest railroad station. The post office is Van- couver, Wash., and there is a telegraph station at the post. There are quarters for a regiment of infantry.

VANCOUVER ISLAND. An island on the Pacific coast of North America, belonging to British Columbia, from the mainland of which it is separated on the north by Queen Charlotte Sound and on the east by. Johnston and Georgia straits. It is separated from the State of Wash- ington by Georgia and Fuca straits (Map: Brit- ish Columbia, D 5). Its greatest length is from northwest to southeast. Area, 12.760 square miles. The island is mountainous, belonging to the adjacent chain on the continent. Victoria Peak is the highest point, reaching an elevation of about 7500 feet. The coast presents a fjord- like aspect, being roughly irregular. Nootka Sound is on the west. Lakes and rivers abound, but none of the streams is navigable. The cli- mate is damp and raw, yet is considered health- ful. The summers are jilcasantly warm, owing to the prevailing westerly winds. The island has fine forests of both coniferous and decid- uous trees. There is plenty of big game, and the fisheries are rich in .salmon, herring, and sturgeon. The flora and fauna are akin to those of British Columbia (q,v. ). Gold is found in the rivers: iron and cojiper ores are alnuidant; and particularly noteworthy are the coal-mines, which su|i|)ly the whole Pacific coast. The island