Charles De Kay Cooper

Charles De Kay Cooper was born in 1769. He was said to have been the fourth of the ten sons of Rhinebeck physician Dr. Ananias Cooper and his wife, Elizabeth De Kay Cooper.

He was sent to New York City and studied medicine under Dr. Crosby.

Perhaps he was in Albany as early as 1788, when a "Dr. Cooper's" personal property was valued on a first ward assessment roll. By 1791, Cooper had settled in Albany where he was confirmed in St. Peter's Episcopal Church. In 1792 he began to practice medicine. He married young Margaret Vernor, the adopted daughter of future New York State Lieutenant Governor John Tayler. The marriage produced a number of children - two of whom became quite prominent.

These Coopers lived in the home of his famous father-in-law at 50 State Street until Tayler's death in 1829. They then moved to 66 North Pearl Street.

In 1794, he was appointed "health officer" of the Albany port by Governor George Clinton.

Probably following Tayler, he served as Indian agent and was involved in numerous real estate transactions - some of them regarding Revolutionary War land grants.

Publication of a letter Cooper wrote in the Albany Register in April1804 has been credited with provoking the duel that resulted in the death of Alexander Hamilton. By that time, he had turned from medicine to politics. He served as a judge of the county court, clerk, and in 1817, was appointed Secretary of State. He later was elected to the city council. Over several decades, he was an officer of an number of Albany-based, civic organizations.

Charles De Kay Cooper died in January 1831 and was buried in the Dutch church cemetery. He was "noted as a man of remarkable physical force, great influence and high sense of honor." He had lived sixty one years. His will passed probate in 1834.

Sources: The life of Charles De Kay Cooper is CAP biography number 462. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. The main collection of his papers is at the New York State Library. A sketch of him appears in NEA.

His portrait was painted by Ezra Ames.