Peter Theobaldus Curtenius (April 3, 1734, in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

– 1798 in New York City) was an American merchant and politician.

Early life

Peter Theobaldus Curtenius was born on April 3, 1734, in

. He was the son of Rev. Anthonius Curtenius, a clergyman of the Dutch Church who had come from

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...

to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Career

In 1774, he was a member of the New York

Committee of Correspondence The committees of correspondence were, prior to the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, a collection of American political organizations that sought to coordinate opposition to British Parliament and, later, support for American independe ...

. On May 31, 1775, the

New York Provincial Congress The New York Provincial Congress (1775–1777) was a revolutionary provisional government formed by colonists in 1775, during the American Revolution, as a pro-American alternative to the more conservative New York General Assembly, and as a repla ...

appointed him Commissary General, with the rank of

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

, being in charge of the purchase of provisions for the Continental Army. In 1782, after the resignation of merchant and banker

Comfort Sands Comfort Sands (February 26, 1748 – September 22, 1834) was an American merchant, banker and politician. Life Comfort Sands was born in Cow Neck, Long Island on February 26, 1748. He was one of eight children born to John Sands (1708–1760) ...

, he was appointed New York State Auditor, holding the post until the creation of the succeeding office of comptroller in 1797.

Personal life

In August 1755, he married Catharine Goelet (died 1806), a sister of his partner

Peter Goelet Peter Goelet (January 5, 1727 – October 11, 1811) was a merchant and real estate entrepreneur of New York City. Early life Peter Goelet was born on January 5, 1727, in New York City. He was the fifth of thirteen children born to Jan "John" Goe ...

, and their children were: * Elizabeth Curtenius (born 1757) * Anthony Curtenius (born 1759) * Catharine Curtenius Dunlap (born 1761) * Gen. Peter Curtenius (1763–1817), who married Mary Anna Lasher (d. 1829) * Janet Curtenius (born 1765) * Philip Curtenius (born 1768) * Jane Curtenius (1770–1846), who married Elbert Roosevelt (1767–1857), a grandson of Johannes Roosevelt. * Mary Curtenius (born 1773) * Anthony Washington Curtenius (born 1775). He died from

yellow fever Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains – particularly in the back – and headaches. Symptoms typically improve within five days. ...

in New York City, and was originally buried at the vault of the Middle Dutch Church on Cedar Street, but he and his son Peter's remains were re-interred in 1857 at the Beechwoods Cemetery in New Rochelle, New York.

Descendants

His son Peter as the Marshal of the City of New York in 1812 carried out a registration of "Alien Enemies", that is British people, of whom there were about 1500 in the city, following the outbreak of the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...

. His grandson, Clinton Roosevelt (1804–1898), was a politician and inventor.

Sources

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Curtenius, Peter Theobaldus 1734 births 1798 deaths Goelet family New York State Comptrollers Politicians from New York City Deaths from yellow fever American people of Dutch descent Infectious disease deaths in New York (state)