http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=V000056 "... founded the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy in 1824; was a supporter of John Quincy Adams; elected to the Seventeenth Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of United States Representative Solomon Van Vechten Van Rensselaer and reelected to the three succeeding Congresses (February 27, 1822-March 3, 1829); chairman, Committee on Agriculture (Eighteenth through Twentieth Congresses); was not a candidate for reelection; devoted his time to landed interests and to educational and public welfare matters; regent of the University of New York 1819-1839; died on January 26, 1839, in Albany, N.Y.; interment in the family burying ground; reinterment in Albany Rural Cemetery." Fun Fact: he was the "10th richest American of all time." (http://www.geni.com/people/Maj-General-Stephen-van-Rensselaer-III/6000000000953956193) Marriage: His wives were Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler Van Rensselaer and Cornelia Bell Paterson Van Rensselaer (http://www.geni.com/people/Maj-General-Stephen-van-Rensselaer-III/6000000000953956193) Children: General Stephen Van Rensselaer IV; Rev Cortlandt Van Rensselaer; Philip Stephen Van Rensselaer; Brig. General Henry van Rensselaer (USA) and Alexander Van Rensselaer (http://www.geni.com/people/Maj-General-Stephen-van-Rensselaer-III/6000000000953956193) Mentioned in the letter-18280801GWS_WHS: "I will endeavour to obtain from the Professor, the Constitution & the Exercises of the Rensselaer School which I shall send you, in the mean tim eI will give you as much of its history as I am able, It was founded by the Hon Stephen Van Rensselaer in the year '24..."