Peter Theobaldus Curtenius (April 3, 1734, in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

– 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 provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...

to the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Career

In 1774, he was a member of the New York

Committee of Correspondence The committees of correspondence were a collection of American political organizations that sought to coordinate opposition to British Parliament and, later, support for American independence during the American Revolution. The brainchild of S ...

. 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 A commissary is a government official charged with oversight or an ecclesiastical official who exercises in special circumstances the jurisdiction of a bishop. In many countries, the term is used as an administrative or police title. It often c ...

, with the rank of

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), 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 colon ...

, being in charge of the purchase of provisions for the

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...

. In 1782, after the resignation of merchant and banker Comfort Sands, 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, 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 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 New Rochelle ( ; in ) is a Political subdivisions of New York State#City, city in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County, New York (state), New York, United States. It is a suburb of New York City, located approximately from Midtow ...

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 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

. 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 Merchants from colonial New York 18th-century American merchants