Richard Varick

Richard Varick
Portrait of Varick by Henry Inman (ca. 1831)
45th Mayor of New York City
In office
October 12, 1789 – December 31, 1801
Preceded byJames Duane
Succeeded byEdward Livingston
GovernorGeorge Clinton (1789–1795)
John Jay (1795–1801)
2nd Attorney General of New York
In office
May 14, 1788 – September 29, 1789
GovernorGeorge Clinton
Preceded byEgbert Benson
Succeeded byAaron Burr
6th Speaker of the New York State Assembly
In office
January 12, 1787 – December 10, 1788
Preceded byJohn Lansing Jr.
Succeeded byJohn Lansing Jr.
15th Recorder of New York City
In office
February 20, 1784 – September 29, 1789
Preceded byJohn Watts
Succeeded bySamuel Jones
Personal details
BornMarch 15, 1753
Hackensack, Province of New Jersey, British America
DiedJuly 30, 1831 (aged 78)
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Resting placeFirst Reformed Dutch Church Cemetery in Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Political partyFederalist
SpouseMaria Roosevelt
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceContinental Army
New York State Militia
Years of service1775 - 1801
RankColonel
Battles/warsAmerican Revolutionary War

Richard Varick (March 15, 1753 – July 30, 1831) was an American lawyer, military officer, and politician who has been referred to as "The Forgotten Founding Father."[1] A major figure in the development of post-Independence New York City and the state of New York, Varick became the 45th Mayor of New York City in 1789 and served eleven consecutive one-year terms until 1801.[2]

Previous to his terms as mayor, Varick served as the 14th Recorder of New York City from 1784 to 1789. An office that no longer exists, it equates to 'Chief Legal Officer'. Along with Samuel Jones, Varick codified New York State's first statutes after the American Revolution in the Laws of New York (2 vols., 1789). This body of work laid the legal groundwork for Varick to institute the Law of New York, the New York City Administrative Code, and the Rules of New York City during his terms as mayor.[3] Additionally, under his leadership, the progenitors of the New York City Department of Health, the New York Stock Exchange, and many other organizations would be created. These organizations established the foundation of modern New York City.

During the American Revolutionary War, Varick served as George Washington's aide-de-camp and private secretary. Varick's body of work from this era would lead to the Varick Transcripts, which now live in the Library of Congress. The value of these documents has been noted throughout their lifetime as invaluable to the understanding of the formation of the United States.[3]

Varick was a founder of the Society of the Cincinnati and the American Bible Society, and was a slaveholder.[4] He was also a longtime trustee of Columbia University, where he was chairman of the board from 1810 to 1816.[5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cushman2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Guide to the Papers of Richard Varick 1743-1871 (Bulk 1775-1830) MS 655". dlib.nyu.edu. New-York Historical Society. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b Michael Bellesiles. "Richard Varick". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  4. ^ Zauzmer Weil, Julie (15 February 2022). "Asked to help, Post readers sent searing evidence about dozens more enslavers in Congress". Washington Post. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Columbia Alumni News, Volume 8". Columbia University Press. 1917. Retrieved 29 April 2020.