George Washington referred to it as the "Seat of Empire." New York was once New Netherland, a Dutch colony for over forty years from 1624 to 1664. It was conquered by the English in 1664 and named in honor of the Duke of York. Existing as a colony [Link] of Great Britain for over a century, New York declared its independence on July 9, 1776, becoming one of the original 13 states of the Federal Union. On April 20, 1777, New York's first constitution was adopted.
The first government of New York State grew out of the Revolution. The State Convention that drew up the Constitution created a Council of Safety which governed for a time and set the new government in motion. In June 1777, during the war, an election for the first governor took place. Two of the candidates, Philip Schuyler & George Clinton, were generals in the field. Two others, Colonel John Jay & General John Morin Scott, were respectively leaders of the aristocratic and democratic groups in the Convention. On July 9, George Clinton was declared elected and he was inaugurated as Governor at Kingston, July 30, 1777. Albany became the capital of the State in January 1797. Alexander Hamilton was a leader in the movement which ended in the development of the Federal Constitution, and he was active in its ratification. New York City became the first capital of the new nation, where President George Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789.
Elected officers of the state government, chosen for four-year terms, are the Governor, Lt. Gov., Attorney General and Comptroller. Legislative power of the state is vested in two houses: the Senate, consisting of 61 members, and the Assembly, consisting of 149 members. The state has supplied more than its share of national leaders, beginning with Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury; and John Jay, the first chief justice. Aaron Burr & George Clinton served as vice presidents. Martin Van Buren, Chester A. Arthur and Grover Cleveland went from New York politics to the presidency. In the 1900s, Theodore Roosevelt & Franklin D. Roosevelt achieved the presidency; and Nelson Rockefeller served as vice president. Governors Charles E. Hughes, Alfred E. Smith and Thomas E. Dewey all were candidates for the presidency.
