Jonah Patel
John Lansing Jr., a Founding Father of the United States, was a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, which saw the adoption of the US Constitution and the official formation of the United States of America. However, Lansing, along with fellow delegate Robert Yates, withdrew from the convention and did not sign the Constitution due to his belief that it infringed on the sovereignty of independent states and did not sufficiently guarantee individual liberty. Lansing's subsequent political career included appointments as a justice and chief justice of the New York Supreme Court, as well as chancellor of New York, until his mysterious disappearance and presumed death in 1829.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Ten Eyck Lansing Jr. |
| Birth Date | January 30, 1754 |
| Birthplace | Albany, New York |
| Education | Studied law in Albany and under James Duane in New York City |
| Occupation | Attorney, Jurist, Politician, Lawyer, Judge, Chancellor of New York, Regent of the State University of New York |
| Historical Significance | Founding Father of the United States, Delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, opposed the United States Constitution |
| Disappearance | December 12, 1829 |
| Theories about Disappearance | Presumed drowned or murdered by political opponents |
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What You'll Learn
John Lansing Jr.'s political career
John Ten Eyck Lansing Jr., born on January 30, 1754, in Albany, New York, was a prominent figure in the early political history of the United States. A founding father of the nation, Lansing's political career was marked by his strong opposition to the United States Constitution, his contributions to the New York State Assembly, and his role in shaping the judiciary of the state.
Lansing, a lawyer by profession, began his political career during the American Revolution when he served as military secretary to General Philip Schuyler. His association with the Continental Congress began in 1785, and he continued to serve in this capacity until 1787. In 1787, Lansing, along with Robert Yates and Alexander Hamilton, was appointed as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. However, he, along with Yates, withdrew from the convention after six weeks due to their disagreement with the proposed constitution, believing it infringed on the rights of states and individuals. Despite their efforts, they were unable to prevent the approval of the Constitution at the New York Ratifying Convention in 1788.
Lansing's political career in New York was significant. He served in the New York State Assembly from 1781 to 1784 and again in 1786 and 1789, holding the position of Speaker of the Assembly in the latter two years. He also served as Mayor of Albany from 1786 to 1790. In 1790, Lansing was appointed as an Associate Justice of the New York Supreme Court, and in 1798, he was elevated to the position of Chief Justice of New York. As Chief Justice, he presided over notable cases such as the murder trial of Levi Weeks in 1800.
Lansing's political career extended beyond his judicial appointments. In 1801, he became the Chancellor of New York, a position he held until he reached the mandatory retirement age of sixty years in 1814. Even after his retirement, Lansing remained active in public service. He was appointed as a regent of the State University of New York in 1817 and served in this role until his death in 1829. Lansing's disappearance in December 1829 remains a mystery, with some speculating that he was murdered by political opponents. The town of Lansing in New York was named after him, honouring his contributions to the state and the nation.
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Why John Lansing Jr. didn't sign the constitution
John Ten Eyck Lansing Jr., born on January 30, 1754, in Albany, New York, was a Founding Father of the United States. He graduated from King's College (now Columbia University) and practiced law in his hometown. Lansing served in various political roles, including in the New York State Assembly, as Speaker of the Assembly, as a member of Congress under the Articles of Confederation, and as Mayor of Albany.
In 1787, Lansing was appointed as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, along with Robert Yates and Alexander Hamilton. However, he did not sign the Constitution and withdrew from the Convention in July of that year. Lansing, along with fellow delegate Yates, strongly opposed the newly proposed United States Constitution, arguing that it infringed on the sovereignty of independent states and did not sufficiently guarantee individual liberty. They believed that the Convention was exceeding its instructions by drafting a new constitution instead of amending the existing Articles of Confederation.
Lansing and Yates walked out of the Convention after six weeks and explained their departure in a joint letter to New York Governor George Clinton. At the New York Ratifying Convention that followed, Lansing continued to lead the opposition to the Constitution but ultimately failed to prevent its ratification. Despite his objections, Lansing went on to serve in several prominent judicial roles, including as a justice and later Chief Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, and as Chancellor of New York until his retirement in 1814.
Lansing's disappearance in December 1829 remains a mystery. He was last seen leaving his hotel in New York City to post a letter, and he was presumed to have drowned. However, some contemporary sources, such as the memoirs of Thurlow Weed, a former political leader in New York, suggest that Lansing was murdered by political opponents.
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John Lansing Jr.'s disappearance
John Lansing Jr., a Founding Father of the United States, mysteriously disappeared on December 12, 1829, at the age of 75. He was last seen leaving his hotel room in New York City to post a letter on board the Albany steamer at the foot of Cortland Street. He was presumed to have drowned, but no body was ever found, and foul play was also suspected.
Lansing was a prominent lawyer, jurist, and politician who played a significant role in the early history of the United States. He served in various positions, including as a member of the Continental Congress in 1785, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Mayor of Albany, and Chancellor of New York. He was also a slave owner, keeping a handful of slaves as servants in his New York house.
At the Constitutional Convention, Lansing, along with fellow delegate Robert Yates, strongly opposed the newly proposed United States Constitution. They believed it infringed on the sovereignty of the independent states and did not sufficiently guarantee individual liberties. Both Lansing and Yates walked out of the convention after six weeks and published their reasons in a joint letter to New York Governor George Clinton. Neither man signed the Constitution.
Lansing's disappearance remains a mystery, with only one major clue appearing after his death. In 1882, the memoirs of Thurlow Weed, a former political leader in New York, were published by his grandson. Weed wrote that Lansing was murdered by several prominent political and social figures who found he was an obstacle to their projects. Weed claimed to have seen proof of this but did not reveal the information out of respect for the families involved.
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John Lansing Jr.'s legacy
John Ten Eyck Lansing Jr., a Founding Father of the United States, left a significant legacy in both law and politics. Born in 1754 in Albany, New York, Lansing went on to become a prominent figure in the early years of the nation's history.
Lansing's legacy began with his service in the American Revolution as military secretary to General Philip Schuyler. He then embarked on a legal career, practising law in his hometown of Albany. This led to a long involvement in politics, including serving in the New York State Assembly, as Speaker of the Assembly, and as a member of the Congress of the Confederation. Lansing also served as Mayor of Albany from 1786 to 1790.
However, Lansing is perhaps best known for his role as a delegate to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Along with fellow delegates, he opposed the newly proposed United States Constitution, arguing that it infringed on the rights of states and individuals. As a result, he and another New York delegate, Yates, walked out of the convention and did not sign the Constitution. Despite their efforts, they were unable to prevent the Constitution from being approved at the New York Ratifying Convention.
Lansing's legacy continued in the judicial realm, as he was appointed to the New York State Supreme Court in 1790 and elevated to Chief Justice in 1798. He also served as Chancellor of New York from 1801 until his retirement in 1814. During his legal career, he presided over notable cases such as the trial of Levi Weeks for murder.
Lansing's mysterious disappearance in 1829 remains a part of his legacy. After leaving his hotel room to post a letter, he was never seen again and was presumed drowned or possibly murdered. Despite speculation, no explanation for his disappearance was ever found, leaving an enduring enigma surrounding his life and legacy.
Today, the town of Lansing in New York bears his name, serving as a lasting reminder of his contributions and impact on the state and nation.
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John Lansing Jr.'s personal life
John Ten Eyck Lansing Jr. was born on January 30, 1754, in Albany, New York, and was of Dutch ancestry. He was the son of Gerrit Jacob Lansing and Jannetje "Jane" (née Waters) Lansing. He had two younger brothers, Abraham Gerritse Lansing and Sanders G. Lansing. Through his brothers, Lansing was the uncle of Robert Lansing, a New York State Senator, and Gerrit Yates Lansing, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Lansing studied law in Albany with Robert Yates (later Chief Justice of New York) and under James Duane in New York City. He was admitted to the bar in 1775 and began practising law in Albany in 1779. During the Revolutionary War, he served as a military secretary to General Philip Schuyler from 1776 to 1777.
Lansing had a long career in politics and government. He served in the New York State Assembly from 1781 to 1784, 1785-86, and 1788-89, and was the Speaker of the Assembly in 1786 and 1789. He also served as a member of the Confederation Congress in 1785. In 1786, he was appointed Mayor of Albany, a position he held until 1790.
In 1787, Lansing was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. However, he withdrew from the convention in July because he opposed the proposed United States Constitution, believing it infringed on state and individual rights. He was one of the non-signing delegates at the Convention.
Lansing was appointed an Associate Justice of the New York Supreme Court in 1790 and became Chief Justice in 1798. He was appointed Chancellor of New York in 1801 and served in that office until he reached the mandatory retirement age of sixty in 1814. In 1817, he was appointed a regent of the State University of New York and served in that capacity until his death in 1829.
Lansing married Cornelia Ray, and they had ten children, five of whom died young. He disappeared mysteriously on December 12, 1829, after leaving his hotel room to post a letter, and was presumed drowned or murdered. No explanation was ever found for his disappearance, and his wife passed away five years later, in 1834.
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Frequently asked questions
No, John Lansing Jr. did not sign the Constitution. He was a delegate at the 1787 Constitutional Convention but left early as he opposed the proposed United States Constitution.
John Lansing Jr. believed that the convention was exceeding its instructions by drafting a new constitution instead of amending the Articles of Confederation. He also opposed the language and terminology of the Constitution.
John Lansing Jr. returned to New York and led the opposition to the state's ratification of the federal constitution at the 1788 Poughkeepsie Convention.
Yes, historians Howel and Tenney have paid tribute to John Lansing Jr. and his copatriots, stating that the nation is indebted to them for the ten important amended Articles which were subsequently made a part of the Constitution.
John Lansing Jr. was appointed an Associate Justice of the New York Supreme Court of Judicature in 1790 and Chief Justice of New York in 1798. He also served as Chancellor of New York from 1801 until his retirement in 1814. John Lansing Jr. disappeared mysteriously in December 1829 and was presumed drowned or murdered.
