John Jay—Declaration signer, Continental Congress President, Governor, First Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court—appoints the mayor who saw New York City’s population double during his tenure.
“The People of the State of New York, by the grace of God free and independent.… Do nominate, constitute and appoint the said Richard Varick to be Mayor of our City of New York for the year ensuing, with full power to use, exercise and enjoy all the powers, jurisdiction, authorities, privileges, pre-eminences and appurtenances to the said office….”
Richard Varick (1753-1831) studied law at King’s College (later Columbia) and became a militia captain at the start of the Revolution. He was aide-de-camp to Philip Schuyler. As an early aide to Benedict Arnold, it took some time for his name to be cleared after Arnold’s treason. At the end of the war, Varick became Washington’s personal secretary. He was a N.Y. assemblyman and then Speaker of the state assembly, state attorney general from 1788 to 1789, and mayor of New York from 1791 to 1801. Due to his support of the unpopular Jay Treaty between the U.S. and Great Britain in 1794, he was almost literally driven out of City Hall by a riot. In a sweep of political fortunes that made Thomas Jefferson president, Varick was replaced in 1801 by Edward Livingston.
From 1777 to 1821, New York City’s mayors were appointed by the governor and the Council of Appointments. Direct popular election of the mayor began in 1834.
JOHN JAY. Document Signed as Governor of New York [Albany], March 4, 1797. On vellum; large paper and wax seal with “The Great Seal of the State of New York”. Countersigned on the verso by Jasper Hopper as Deputy Secretary of State. 1 p., 15½ x 9⅜ in. With Robert Benson Autograph Attestation Signed as Clerk of the City of New York.
Offered by Seth Kaller
$12,500
Leave a Reply