Biography
Born in Prattsburgh, New York, Prattsburgh, Steuben County, New York, he attended Franklin Academy there. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Bath (village), New York, Bath. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Steuben Co., 1st D.) in 75th New York State Legislature, 1852, 80th New York State Legislature, 1857 and 81st New York State Legislature, 1858. In 1858, he was the Republican candidate for Speaker, but was defeated by Democrat Thomas G. Alvord on the 53rd ballot. Van Valkenburgh was in command of the recruiting depot in Elmira, New York, Elmira and organized seventeen regiments early in the Civil War. He was elected as a Republican Party (United States), Republican to the 37th United States Congress, 37th and 38th United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1865. While in the House he was Chairman of the Committee on Militia (37th and 38th Congresses). He served as Colonel (United States), colonel of the 107th New York Volunteer Infantry, and was its commander at the Battle of Antietam. Following the war, he was Acting Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1865. He was appointed United States Ambassador to Japan, Minister Resident to Japan on January 18, 1866, and remained on the post until November 11, 1869. It was in his role as Minister Resident in Japan that Van Valkenburgh prevented the delivery of the ''CSS Stonewall'' to the forces of the Tokugawa clan during the Boshin War. After his return from Japan, Van Valkenburgh settled in Florida, and was appointed associate justice of the Florida Supreme Court on May 20, 1874. He remained on the bench until his death in Suwannee Springs, Florida, Suwannee Springs, near Live Oak, Florida, Live Oak in 1888. He was buried at the Old St. Nicholas Cemetery, on the south side of the St. Johns River, in Jacksonville.References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Valkenburgh, Robert B 1821 births 1888 deaths American people of Dutch descent People from Prattsburgh, New York Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly Union Army colonels Ambassadors of the United States to Japan Justices of the Florida Supreme Court People of New York (state) in the American Civil War People of the Boshin War Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American judges 19th-century American diplomats