Why Harmanus Bleecker Has a Library Named in His Honor
Harmanus Bleecker was a leading citizen of Albany, New York during the Early Republic who became Chargé d'Affaires to the Netherlands.
Harmanus Bleecker
Harmanus Bleecker grew up alongside the Revolutionary War in Albany, New York.
Bleecker passed the bar and began practicing just as Thomas Jefferson became President.
While in his early 30’s, Harmanus became a member of the United States House of Representatives.
He opposed the War of 1812, but once his country joined the fight he worked hard to supply the troops in New York.
Improving Albany
Bleecker was only a Congressman for one term, but followed that with several years in the State Assembly.
He became known as a civic leader in Albany, sitting on the board of the committee that oversaw the Erie Canal, the University of the State of New York, Albany City Hospital and Mechanics and Farmers Bank.
Furthermore, he educated a whole slew of future business and political leaders in the United States.
Netherlands
In the 1830’s Harmanus retired and decided to tour Europe.
He travelled the Continent for several years before receiving word that Martin Van Buren had appointed him Chargé d'Affaires to the Netherlands.
Having grown up in a Dutch household, Bleecker spoke the language extremely well which made his duties all the more easy.
Legacy
While in the Netherlands, Bleecker married a young woman named Sebastiana Cornelia Mentz.
The young woman was very young...she was 28 and he was 63.
Soon after the wedding the couple returned to Albany. Harmanus passed away just a few years later.
Having no children, Bleecker left all his money to his wife with the promise that the fortune be donated to his home city after her death.
This donation led to the creation of the Albany Public Library, or as the building is officially titled today...the Harmanus Bleecker Library.
Here are some other Albany Founders with Dutch Heritage:
Mayor Abraham Ten Broeck’s Birgade
Leonard Gansevoort Skips the Annapolis Convention
Goose Van Schaick Leads The Onondaga Expedition
If you’d like to read more about Bleecker the only one I’ve found is the ‘Sketch’ below.
Pick up a copy through the Amazon affiliate link below (you’ll support this site, but don’t worry, Amazon pays me while your price stays the same).
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The main resource for this article was the Biographical Note at the New York State Library, though there are a few obvious errors in it.
