Jacob Aaron Westervelt (1800 - 1879)

Born 20 Jan 1800 in Tenafly, Bergen, New Jersey, United States

Ancestors

Died 21 Feb 1879 at age 79 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States

Preceded by
Ambrose Cornelius Kingsland

72nd Mayor of New York City
1853-1855

Succeeded by
Fernando Wood

Biography

Jacob Aaron Westervelt was the 72nd Mayor of the City of New York.^[1] He was also in the ship building business, having constructed 247 ships of all descriptions. ^[1] He designed some of the fastest and successful sailing packets, clippers, and steamships. ^[1] He was an award-winning shipbuilder for foreign governments and Royalty. ^[1] He served for many years as President of the Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen and was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Marine Society, the Port Society, and the St. Nicholas Society. ^[1] He was President of the Board of Dock Commissioners. ^[1]

Jacob was the eldest son of Ari and Vrowti Westervelt. ^[1] He was born in Tenafly, New Jersey on 20 January 1800 and baptized at Schraalenburgh, a church his father built, on 16 February. ^[1] He was the first child to be baptized there. ^[1] The family moved to New York, New York in 1804 when his father was working on improving the riverfront. ^[1] He went to school to study surveying and navigation and went to sea for a couple of years. ^[1] He left that at about age 17 and apprenticed under Christian Bergh, a prosperous shipbuilder. ^[1]

Even before his apprenticeship was completed, he was allowed to go to Charleston, South Carolina to construct two schooners. ^[1] He remained there, having started his own business until 1822 when he returned to New York. ^[1] He, Christian Bergh, and Robert Carnley, formed a partnership under the name C. Bergh & Co. ^[1] He began his own shipbuilding businesses about 1836. ^[1]

Jacob was a Democrat and became active in politics about 1840 when he was elected tot he Common Council, serving two years as Alderman from the 13th Ward. ^[1] He was nominated to run for Mayor of New York City in 1852 by the reformist branch of the Democratic party to counteract the widespread corruption, increasing taxes, and excessive government spending. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17} Wikipedia contributors, "Jacob Aaron Westervelt," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (https://en.wikipedia.org : accessed 18 April 2022).

• Wikidata: Item Q1677408, en:Wikipedia
• Find A Grave: Memorial #28185202