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2 Revolutionary War 3 Later Career 4 Descendants 5 References 6 External link |
His father died when Philip was seven years old. After attending the public school at Albany he was educated by tutors at the Van Cortlandt family estate at New Rochelle. He joined the British forces in 1755 during the French and Indian War, raised a company, and was commissioned as its Captain by his cousin, Lt. Governor James Delancey. Later in that war he served as a quartermaster, purchasing supplies and organizing equipment.
In September of 1755 he married Catherine Van Rensselaer (1734-1803) at Albany. This cemented his relationship with another powerful New York family. Although the marriage was urgent (their first daughter Angelica was born in February, 1756), they were a devoted couple for the rest of their lives, and had eleven children.
In 1761-1762 Philip made a trip to England to settle accounts from his work as quartermaster. He also used this time to build a town house in Albany, and start his country estate at Saratoga (which is now Schuylerville). After the war he also expanded his estate at Saratoga, expanding his holdings to tens of thousands of acres, adding tenant farmers, a store, and mills for flour, flax, and lumber. His flax mill for the making of linen was the first one in America. He built several schooners on the Hudson, and named the first Saratoga.
Schuyler began his political career as a member of the New York Assembly in 1768, and served in that body until 1775. During this time his views came to be more opposed to the colonial government. He was particularly outspoken in matters of trade and currency. He was also made a Colonel in the militia for his support of governor Henry Moore.
As department commanding General, he was active in preparing a defense against the Saratoga Campaign in 1777. When General St. Clair surrendered Fort Ticonderoga in July, the congress replaced Schuyler with General Horatio Gates. When Schuyler demanded a court martial for his role, he was vindicated but resigned from the army in 1779. He then served in two more sessions of the Continental Congress in 1779 and 1780.
Schuyler died at home in Albany on November 18, 1804 and is buried in the Albany Rural Cemetery at Menands, New York. Schuyler County, Illinois and Schuyler County, New York were named in his honor.