Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen, Jr.   [1916-2011]

US Congressman

Peter Frelinghuysen is the fifth member of the New Jersey Frelinghuysen political dynasty to represent the New Jersey Fifth District in the U. S. Congress. Whereas his four Frelinghuysen predecessors served in the U. S. Senate, Peter had to be satisfied to become a Congressman in the U. S. House of Representatives. Peter was a great-great-great grandson of Frederick Frelinghuysen [1753-1804], the first Frelinghuysen in the Frelinghuysen political dynasty to represent New Jersey in the U. S. Senate. Frederick Frelinghuysen was a grandson of Theodore Jacobus Frelinghuysen [1691-1747], a Dutch American theologian, who was born in the province of East Friesland, now Groningen, a province in The Netherlands. Peter was also a cousin, probably once removed, of Joseph Sherman Frelinghuysen [1869-1948], the fourth U. S. Senator in the Frelinghuysen political dynasty from New Jersey. And finally, Peter is the father of Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, currently serving as a U. S. Congressman from New Jersey.

Peter Frelinghuysen joined the Holland Society of New York in 1973. He claimed descent from Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen who arrived in America in 1720.

Peter Frelinghuysen was elected as a Republican Representative to the Eighty third U. S. Congress, and to the ten following U. S. Congresses. He served during the years 1953 to and including 1974. He was not a candidate for the Ninety fourth Congress, retired and lived in Harding Township, New Jersey.

Peter Frelinghuysen was born on January 17, 1916 in New York City. He attended Saint Mark’s School in Southborough, Massachusetts, was admitted to Princeton University and graduated with a B. A. Degree from Princeton in 1938. He then entered Yale University Law School and graduated with his LL. B. Degree in 1941. He passed the New York State Bar exam and began practicing law in New York City. Shortly thereafter, in 1942, he was called to serve in the military, following the start of World War II. He served in the Office of Naval Intelligence, from September 1942 to December 1945, and during his military service career rose to the rank of lieutenant. Following his time in the military, Peter entered Columbia University in 1946 to do graduate work in history, and he completed his studies in 1947. From May 1948 until October 1948 he served on the staff of the Foreign Affairs Task Force of the Hoover Commission. From the end of 1948 until 1952 he was engaged in the investment business in New York City, and became a director of the Howard Savings Bank in Livingston, New Jersey. During 1952 he was nominated by the Republican Party in New Jersey to run for a seat in the U. S. Congress in November of that year. He won the election and in January 1953 began his 22 year tenure in the U. S. House of Representatives.

Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen Jr. passed away on May 20, 2011, at the age of 95. He was the son of Peter H. B. Frelinghuysen and Adelina Havemeyer. He was marreid to Beatrice Sterling Procter in 1940. The couple had five children Peter, Beatrice S., Rodney P., Adeline H. and Frederick. His son Rodney P. continues his service in the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

REFERENCES

Frelinghuysen, Jr., Peter Hood Ballantine, http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=F000371

Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Frelinghuysen,_Jr.

Peter Frelinghuysen, Jr., www.nndb.com/people/658/000097367

 

E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON; GOOGLE: Kindle Store Pegels

 

PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICANS, CURRENT AND HISTORIC

EIGHT PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICAN FAMILIES: THE ROOSEVELTS, VANDERBILTS AND OTHERS, 2015

FIFTEEN PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICAN FAMILIES: THE VAN BURENS, KOCH BROTHERS, VOORHEES AND OTHERS, 2015

PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICANS IN U.S. GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, 2015

 

DUTCH PEGELS INVOLVED IN WARS

ALLIED EUROPE CAMPAIGN—1944/1945: TACTICAL MISTAKES, 2017

THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THE NETHERLANDS: MEMOIRS, 2017

FRENCH REVOLUTION, NAPOLEON AND RUSSIAN WAR OF 1812, 2015

About the New Netherland Institute

For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands. NNI is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. More

The New Netherland Research Center

Housed in the New York State Library, the NNRC offers students, educators, scholars and researchers a vast collection of early documents and reference works on America's Dutch era. More

 

Subscribe Now

Subscribe to NNI's  e-Marcurius and DAG to receive information about New Netherland-related events, activities, conferences, and research.

 

Support NNI

By supporting NNI you help increase awareness of the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland and its legacy in America.