Gerrit Y. Lansing


Gerrit Yates Lansing was a U.S. Representative from New York.

Early life

Lansing was born in Albany, New York on August 4, 1783. He was third of sixteen children born to Susanna Yates and Abraham Gerrit Lansing, the New York State Treasurer. His young sister, Susan Yates Lansing, was the second wife of Peter Gansevoort, son of Gen. Peter Gansevoort, in 1843.
He was the nephew of John Lansing, Jr. His maternal grandfather was Abraham Yates.
Lansing pursued classical studies and was graduated from Union College in 1800. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1804 and commenced practice in Albany.

Career

Lansing worked as the private secretary to Governor Morgan Lewis, the third Governor of New York.
He served as Clerk of the New York State Assembly in 1807. He served as judge of the Albany County probate court from 1816 to 1823.
Lansing was elected regent of the University of the State of New York in 1829 and served until his death. He was appointed chancellor of the board on October 31, 1842 and served until his death.
He was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-second, Twenty-third, and Twenty-fourth Congresses. He was not a candidate for reelection in 1836, and returned to practicing law.
Lansing served as president of the Albany Savings Bank from 1854 until his death, and president of the Albany Insurance Company from 1859 until his death.

Personal life

In March 1808, Lansing married Helen Ten Eyck, the daughter of Abraham Ten Eyck and Annatje Ten Eyck. Their children included:
Lansing died in Albany on January 3, 1862. He was interred in the Albany Rural Cemetery.