Theodorus Bailey   [1758-1828]

During his life time Theodorus Bailey served in several civic positions. He served as a United States Representative in three different Congresses, he served for a little less than one year as an elected United States Senator, and he served as the New York City Postmaster for 24 years. In addition, he served in the military during the Revolutionary War, and later in the New York State Militia, from 1786 to 1805, where he rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Theodorus Bailey was from solid Dutch background. His great great grandfather was Cornelis Barente Van Wyck, who settled in New Amsterdam in 1659. His mother was Aaltje Van Brooks, the great grand daughter of Cornelis Barente Van Wyck. Aaltje Van Brooks married John Bailey, and Aaltje was also the great great grandmother of the famous American author, Van Wyck Brooks.

Theodorus Bailey was born near Fishkill, New York on October 12, 1758. He received his schooling there, and then studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1778, and began his law practice in Poughkeepsie, New York.

While practicing law during the early years of the new republic, Bailey became interested in politics, ran for the United States Congress, and was elected in 1793 to the Fourth United States Congress as an Anti- Administration candidate, and served until 1997. He apparently was unsuccessful in his bid for election to the next Congress, but was elected again to the Sixth United States Congress in 1799. He was unsuccessful in his bid for the Seventh United States Congress, but was appointed in 1781, when the elected representative resigned from his position. Bailey served in the Seventh United States Congress until 1803, while he also served in the New York State Assembly.

Following his years in the House of Representatives, Bailey became interested in the United States Senate, and ran for election in 1802 for the Senate. He won the election and entered the United States Senate in March 1803. His predecessor as United States Senator for New York was Gouverneur Morris, the other famous Dutch American. Bailey only served for less than a year. The position as Postmaster of New York City became available, and Bailey resigned form the United States Senate, and accepted the postmaster position in January 1804.

Bailey apparently enjoyed the postmaster position, or he liked living in New York City. He would remain the New York City Postmaster for the next 24 years until his death. Bailey passed away on January 8, 1828. He was interred in the Dutch Burying Ground, probably in the Fishkill, New York area. He was reinterred in the rural Cemetery of Poughkeepsie, New York in 1864.

 

REFERENCES

Theodorus Bailey (senator), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodorus_Bailey_(senator)

 

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