Henry Van Der Lyn or Henry Vanderlyn (hen'ree văn'durlin) (April 24, 1784 – October 1, 1865) was a 19th-century American lawyer, from Oxford, New York.
Henry Vanderlyn | |
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![]() Portrait by John Vanderlyn, 1815 | |
Born | (1784-04-24)April 24, 1784 |
Died | October 1, 1865(1865-10-01) (aged 81) |
Nationality | American |
Known for | Painting |
![]() | This article does not cite any sources. (August 2008) |
Henry Vanderlyn was the grandson of Pieter Vanderlyn (c.1687–1778) an American colonial painter born in Holland who settled in Kingston, New York. Henry was the brother of John Vanderlyn (1775–1852) a well known Neoclassical painter.
Henry Vanderlyn is one of the most engaging individuals in Oxford, New York's history. He moved to Oxford in 1806 and established a law practice after earning his bachelor's degree at Union College and serving in a New York City law office where he was admitted to the Bar association.
Vanderlyn was a very popular person in Oxford for his genial personality and his generous support of the Oxford Academy School.
He made daily notes on life in Oxford and kept a diary of local and personal events. This diary is a window into the formative years in Chenango County, New York during the first half of the 19th century.
One of the Oxford Historical Society (OHS) museum's most prized items is a set of six volumes of these diaries covering the years 1827-1853. The original hand written diary is in the New York State Historical Society.